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Flappy snake-eel

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Flappy snake-eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Phyllophichthus
Gosline, 1951
Species:
P. xenodontus
Binomial name
Phyllophichthus xenodontus
Gosline, 1951
Synonyms[1]
  • Phyllophichthus macrurus McKay, 1970

The Flappy snake-eel[2] (Phyllophichthus xenodontus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels), and the only species in the genus Phyllophichthus.[3] It was described by William Alonzo Gosline III in 1951.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including East Africa, the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesan Islands, the Society Islands, the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands. It dwells at a depth range of 8–30 metres, and inhabits reefs and inshore waters. It leads a benthic lifestyle, and forms burrows. Males can reach a maximum total length of 42 centimetres.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Synonyms of Phyllophichthus xenodontus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. ^ Common names for Phyllophichthus xenodontus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. ^ a b Phyllophichthus xenodontus at www.fishbase.org.
  4. ^ Gosline, W. A., 1951 (Oct.) [ref. 1858] The osteology and classification of the ophichthid eels of the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science v. 5 (no. 4): 298-320.