Shortfinned worm eel
Appearance
Shortfinned worm eel | |
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1921 illustration by Louis Thomas Griffin | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Ophichthidae |
Genus: | Scolecenchelys |
Species: | S. australis
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Binomial name | |
Scolecenchelys australis (Macleay, 1881)
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Synonyms[1] | |
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The shortfinned worm eel (Scolecenchelys australis, also known commonly as the shortfin worm eel, worm eel, southern worm eel, Down's worm eel, or Tasmanian worm eel[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by William John Macleay in 1881, originally under the genus Muraenichthys.[4] It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from Australia, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It forms large colonies which inhabit burrows in soft sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 40 centimetres (16 in).[3]
The shortfinned worm eel's diet consists primarily of benthic crustaceans and polychaetes.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Synonyms of Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Common names of Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Macleay, W., 1881 (12 Sept.) [ref. 6222] A descriptive catalogue of Australian fishes. Part IV. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales v. 6 (pt 2): 202-387.
- ^ Food and Feeding Habits Summary for Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.