Leaden worm eel

Last updated

Leaden worm eel
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Myrophis
Species:
M. plumbeus
Binomial name
Myrophis plumbeus
(Cope, 1871)
Synonyms [1]
  • Holopterura plumbeaCope, 1871
  • Paramyrus plumbeus(Cope, 1871)
  • Myrophis longicollisPeters, 1864

The leaden worm eel [2] (Myrophis plumbeus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). [3] It was described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1871. [4] It is a tropical, marine and brackish water-dwelling eel which is known from the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, including Senegal, the Congo, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil. It inhabits bays and estuaries, and forms burrows in sand and mud sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 46.5 centimetres (1 ft 6.3 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 35 centimetres (1 ft 2 in). [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myrophis</span> Genus of fishes

Myrophis is a genus of eels in the snake eel family Ophichthidae.

The Maimed snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1857. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, East Africa, Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands, Australia, and Micronesia. It dwells at a depth range of 1 to 13 metres, and inhabits coral reefs and lagoons, where it forms burrows in soft benthic sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 24 centimetres (9.4 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 8 centimetres (3.1 in).

The longfin worm eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker, Eugenia Brandt Böhlke and James Erwin Böhlke in 1989. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from Colombia, in the western central Atlantic Ocean. It is known to dwell within one meter of the surface.

Myrophis lepturus is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Adolf Kotthaus in 1968. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Gulf of Aden in the western Indian Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth of 60 metres (200 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordinary snake eel</span> Species of fish

The ordinary snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1864, originally under the genus Echelus. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Western Pacific, including Vietnam, Japan, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, and Australia. It inhabits sandy sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 39 centimetres.

The Broadnose worm eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Charles Marcus Breder Jr. in 1927. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda, the Bahamas, Cuba, Lesser Antilles, Belize, and Brazil. It is known to dwell at a depth of 186 metres, and inhabits protected or semi-protected bays and tidal creeks. Males can reach a maximum total length of 21 centimetres (8.3 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speckled worm eel</span> Species of fish

The speckled worm-eel, Myrophis punctatus, is a member of the Ophichthidae family. It was described by Christian Frederik Lütken in 1852. M. punctatus have brown bodies that are lighter on the ventral side than the dorsal side. The upper body is speckled with pepper-like black spots. The snout is pointed. This species has regenerative powers. They grow to a maximum size of 35.3 centimetres.

The Pacific worm eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert in 1883. It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including California, USA, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, and Peru. It dwells at a depth range of 1 to 12 metres, and inhabits sand and mud sediments. Unlike many species of eel, it does not form burrows. Males can reach a maximum total length of 46 centimetres.

Pseudomyrophis frio is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by David Starr Jordan and Bradley Moore Davis in 1891, originally under the genus Myrophis. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth of 108 metres (354 ft). Males can reach a maximum NG of 26 centimetres (10 in).

The Fringe-lipped worm-eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Henry Weed Fowler in 1934. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western central Pacific Ocean, including Taratara Island, Samar Island, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Solomon Island. It dwells at a maximum depth of 48 metres (157 ft), and inhabits benthic sand sediments in coral reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 11.5 centimetres (4.5 in).

The redfin worm-eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by James Douglas Ogilby in 1897, originally under the genus Myropterura. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific and southeastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Red Sea, East and South Africa, Ducie Island, and Lord Howe Island. It dwells at a depth range of 1 to 26 metres, and inhabits lagoons and reefs, forming colonies in sand sediments in confined areas. Males can reach a maximum total length of 35 centimetres (14 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted eel</span> Species of fish

The Painted eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally under the genus Muraena. It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Bay of Biscay, the Republic of Congo, and the Mediterranean. It dwells at a depth range of 3 to 12 metres, and inhabits burrows formed in sand and mud sediments in coastal lagoons and estuaries. Males can reach a maximum total length of 100 centimetres (39 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 60 centimetres (24 in).

The Molo snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Max Carl Wilhelm Weber in 1913. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from Indonesia, in the Indo-Pacific. It dwells at a depth range of 69 to 91 metres, and inhabits sandy sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 11.5 centimetres (4.5 in).

The Oriental worm-eel, also known as the Oriental snake eel, the Oriental sand-eel or the finny sand-eel, is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John McClelland in 1844, originally under the genus Dalophis. It is a tropical, marine and freshwater-dwelling eel which is known from the Indo-Western Pacific, including Somalia, South Africa, India, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Oman, Palau, New Caledonia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and Vanuatu. It dwells at a depth range of 0 to 3 metres, and forms burrows in sand and mud sediments in estuaries, rivers, and inshore turbid waters. Males can reach a maximum total length of 36 centimetres (14 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 25 centimetres (9.8 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddled snake-eel</span> Species of fish

The saddled snake-eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by George Tradescant Lay and Edward Turner Bennett in 1839, originally under the genus Ophisurus. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific and southeastern Atlantic Ocean, including East and South Africa, the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesan Islands, the Mangaréva islands, Japan, and Australia. It dwells at a depth range of 0 to 70 metres, most often around 0 to 10 metres, and inhabits lagoons and reefs, in which it forms burrows in beds of seagrass and sandy areas. Males can reach a maximum total length of 66 centimetres (2.17 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnificent snake eel</span> Species of fish

The magnificent snake eel, also known as the Hawaiian spotted snake eel, is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Charles Conrad Abbott in 1860, originally under the genus Pisoodonophis. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean, including the Hawaiian Islands, the Leeward Islands, Johnston Island, and Midway Atoll. It dwells at a depth range of 1 to 262 metres, and inhabits crevices, sand and rocks. Males can reach a maximum total length of 78 centimetres (31 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldspotted eel</span> Species of fish

The goldspotted eel, also known as the goldspotted snake eel or the dark-spotted snake eel, is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Charles Alexandre Lesueur in 1825, originally under the genus Muraenophis. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda, southern Florida, USA; the Bahamas, Santa Catarina, and Brazil. It dwells at a maximum depth of 15 metres (49 ft), and inhabits rocky and coral reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 110 centimetres (3.6 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Many-eyed snake eel</span> Species of fish

The many-eyed snake eel is a species of eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1864. It is a tropical, marine and freshwater-dwelling eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including East Africa and the Hawaiian Islands. It dwells at a depth of 2 to 25 metres, and inhabits sand and rubble sediments near coral reefs. Males can reach a total length of 62.5 centimetres (24.6 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punctuated snake eel</span> Species of fish

The punctuated snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1837, originally under the genus Ophisurus. It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including Nicaragua, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama. It dwells at a depth range of 15 to 277 metres, and inhabits sand and mud sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 85 centimetres (33 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 60 centimetres (24 in).

The speckled snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John Roxborough Norman in 1939, originally under the genus Ophichthus. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western Indian Ocean, including the Gulf of Aden and Somalia. It dwells at a depth range of 11 to 322 metres. Males can reach a maximum total length of 62.5 centimetres (24.6 in), while females can reach a maximum TL of 75.2 centimetres (29.6 in).

References

  1. Synonyms of Myrophis plumbeus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names of Myrophis plumbeus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. 1 2 Myrophis plumbeus at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Cope, E. D., 1871 [ref. 920] Contribution to the ichthyology of the Lesser Antilles. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society (New Series) v. 14 (pt 3) (art. 5): 445-483.