Species Apterichtus flavicaudus (Snyder, 1904)
Sharpnose Snake Eel, Sharpnose Sand Eel
- Sphagebranchus flavicaudus Snyder, J.O. 1904. A catalogue of the shore fishes collected by the steamer Albatross about the Hawaiian Islands in 1902. Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 22: 513-538 figs 1-13 [516, pl.2 (fig.4)].
Type data:
Holotype USNM 50863, Auau Channel, between Mauai Island and Lanai Island, Hawaiian Islands, 21-28 fathoms.
Paratype(s) CAS(SU) 7509.
Generic Combinations
- Apterichtus flavicaudus (Snyder, 1904). —
McCosker, J.E. 1977. The osteology, classification, and relationships of the eel family Ophichthidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 41(1): 1-123 figs 1-45 [66] (changed combination cited)
Introduction
The presence of this species in Australian waters is somewhat uncertain as it is easily confused with A. australis McCosker & Randall 2005, a species not yet confirmed from Australia. There is also doubt about the validity of A. australis and it may prove to be synonymous with A. flavicaudus. Given this uncertainty we retain the name A. flavicaudus for Australian records until further work can be conducted. See McCosker & Hibino (2015) for further details.
Distribution
States
New South Wales
Extra Distribution Information
Nelson Bay, NSW (32°43'S, 152°09'E) and possibly Lord Howe Island; tropical, central Pacific (Hawaiian Archipelago) and possibly Seychelles.
IMCRA
Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)
Distribution References
Ecological Descriptors
Benthic, continental shelf, continental slope, sand bottom marine.
Extra Ecological Information
1-293 m
General References
McCosker, J.E. 1977. The osteology, classification, and relationships of the eel family Ophichthidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 41(1): 1-123 figs 1-45 [66]
McCosker, J.E., Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Gates, J.E. & Bray, D.J. 2006. Ophichthidae. pp. 264-277 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [266]
McCosker, J.E. & Hibino, Y. 2015. A review of the finless snake eels of the genus Apterichtus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of five new speciesd. Zootaxa 3941(1): 49-78 [60] (regarded Australian identification as tentative)
McCosker, J.E. & Randall, J.E. 2005. Notes on the snake eels of the genera Apterichtus and Ichthyapus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) of the Central and South Pacific, with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 800: 1-11 [6]
McCosker, J.E. & Stewart, A.L. 2015. 40. Family Ophichthidae. pp. 249-258 in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 2 pp. 1-576. [252]
Smith, D.G. & McCosker, J.E. 1999. Family Ophichthidae. pp. 1662-1699 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1668]
Common Name References
Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Sharpnose Snake Eel)
Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Standard names of Australian fishes. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper 9: 1-64 [19] (Sharpnose Snake Eel)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Mar-2019 | ELOPOMORPHA | 01-Oct-2018 | MODIFIED | Dr Doug Hoese (AM) |
| 22-Jul-2015 | Apterichtus Duméril, 1806 | 23-Jun-2016 | MODIFIED | |
| 24-Sep-2011 | ANGUILLIFORMES | 24-Sep-2011 | MOVED | Dr Dianne Bray |
| 27-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |