Blackpored eel
| Blackpored eel | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Ophichthus |
| Species: | O. melanoporus
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| Binomial name | |
| Ophichthus melanoporus Kanazawa, 1963
| |
The blackpored eel[1] (Ophichthus melanoporus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by Robert H. Kanazawa in 1963.[3] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean, including Florida, USA; the Bahamas, and Mexico.[2][4] It dwells at a depth range of 51–460 meters. While the adults inhabit deep water, the larvae are laid inshore.[4] Males can reach a maximum total length of 70 centimeters.[2]
Despite its considerable distribution, the IUCN redlist currently lists the blackpored eel as Data Deficient due to a lack of information on its population, habitat preferences, ecology, and potential threats.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Common names for Ophichthus melanoporus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c Ophichthus melanoporus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Kanazawa, R. H., 1963 (31 Dec.) [ref. 4901] Two new species of ophichthid eels from the western Atlantic. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington v. 76: 281-287.
- ^ a b c Ophichthus melanoporus at the IUCN redlist.
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