Bascanichthys inopinatus

Bascanichthys inopinatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Ophichthidae
Genus:	Bascanichthys
Species:	B. inopinatus
Binomial name
	Bascanichthys inopinatus; McCosker, Böhlke & Böhlke, 1989

Last updated March 13, 2019

Bascanichthys inopinatus is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).^[1] It was described by John E. McCosker, Eugenia Brandt Böhlke, and James Erwin Böhlke in 1989.^[2] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the western central Pacific Ocean.^[1]

An eel is any ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage, and most are predators. The term “eel” originally referred to the European eel, and the name of the order means “European eel-shaped.”

Ophichthidae is a family of fish in the order Anguilliformes, commonly known as the snake eels. The term "Ophichthidae" comes from Greek ophis ("serpent") and ichthys ("fish"). Snake eels are also burrowing eels, they are named for their physical appearance, they have long, cylindrical snakelike bodies. This family is found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate waters. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from coastal shallows and even rivers, to depths of above 800 m (2,600 ft). Most species are bottom dwellers, hiding in mud or sand to capture their prey of crustaceans and small fish, but some are pelagic.

John Edward McCosker is an American ichthyologist and as has been part of expeditions to many countries such as Antarctic, Australia, and the Galapagos. After extensive study and ten expeditions he is one of the foremost experts on the Galapagos. He has been featured in various different television documentaries as well as working with filmmakers and other documentary programs off screen.

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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 at a depth range of 0 to 1 metre.

The Diminutive 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, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from the western Atlantic Ocean.

The deepwater big-eyed worm eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker in 2006. It is a subtropical, marine eel which is known from New Zealand, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 425–820 metres. Females can reach a maximum total length of 58 centimetres.

The Indifferent eel is a species of eels in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and James Erwin Böhlke in 1984. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean, including Panama, Nicaragua, Suriname, and Texas, USA. It dwells at a depth range of 55 to 58 metres.

The Irksone 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, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from a single specimen discovered in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, in the western central Atlantic Ocean. From the holotype, it is known to dwell at a depth range of 10 to 189 metres.

The String eel is a species of eels in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and James Erwin Böhlke in 1984. It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from the western central and northwestern Atlantic Ocean, including Florida, USA; Puerto Rico, and Canada. It dwells at a depth range of 37 to 72 metres, and inhabits mud and sand sediments.

Gordiichthys randalli is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and James Erwin Böhlke in 1984. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from Puerto Rico, in the western central Atlantic Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 8 to 12 metres, and inhabits sand and algal beds in shallow water.

Ophichthus genie is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker in 1999. It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including New Caledonia and Maldives. It dwells at a depth range of 430 to 500 metres. Males can reach a maximum total length of 33.7 centimetres (13.3 in).

The Faintsaddled snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and Eugenia Brandt Böhlke in 1984. It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth of 108 metres.

Ophichthus menezesi is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and Eugenia Brandt Böhlke in 1984. It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth of 177 metres (581 ft).

The dottedline snake eel is a species of eels in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and Eugenia Brandt Böhlke in 1984. It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth of 183 metres.

References

1 2 Bascanichthys inopinatus at www.fishbase.org.
↑ McCosker, J. E., E. B. Böhlke and J. E. Böhlke, 1989 [ref. 13288] Family Ophichthidae (pp. 254-412). In: E. B. Böhlke (ed.) [ref. 13282]. Memoirs of the Sears Foundation of Marine Research Mem. 1 (pt 9).

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[Fishbase-1] 1 2 Bascanichthys inopinatus at www.fishbase.org.

[McCosker,_Böhlke_&_Böhlke,_1989-2] McCosker, J. E., E. B. Böhlke and J. E. Böhlke, 1989 [ref. 13288] Family Ophichthidae (pp. 254-412). In: E. B. Böhlke (ed.) [ref. 13282]. Memoirs of the Sears Foundation of Marine Research Mem. 1 (pt 9).