| Macrognathus pentophthalmos | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Synbranchiformes |
| Family: | Mastacembelidae |
| Genus: | Macrognathus |
| Species: | M. pentophthalmos |
| Binomial name | |
| Macrognathus pentophthalmos (Gronow, 1854) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
Mastacembelus pentophthalmosGronow, 1854 | |
Macrognathus pentophthalmos, the Sri Lanka five-eyed spiny eel, is a small species of spiny eel that is endemic to freshwater habitats in Sri Lanka. Described as a common species as recently as 1980, for unknown reasons its population rapidly declined in the following years and there are no recent confirmed records. [3] In 2012, it was listed as "Critically Endangered, possibly Extinct" in the Sri Lankan National Red List, [4] which was matched by IUCN in 2019. [1]
It is up to 19.5 cm (7.7 in) in standard length. [5] Compared to Mastacembelus armatus , the only other spiny eel in Sri Lanka, M. pentophthalmos has a striped/plain (not mottled) pattern, and clearly separated dorsal, caudal and anal fins. [3] The English name of M. pentophthalmos refers to the series of dark spots on its dorsal fin. [3]
Described as a new species in 1854, it was then considered a synonym of the widespread M. aral . In 2008 it was shown that this was mistaken and M. pentophthalmos was reinstated as a valid species (the true M. aral is not found in Sri Lanka). [3]