Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Muraenesocidae

Muraenesocidae

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CAAB: 37063000

Family MURAENESOCIDAE

Pike Congers, Pike Eels


Compiler and date details

24 February 2018 - Dianne J. Bray, John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates & Douglass F. Hoese

23 June 2012 - Dianne J. Bray, John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates & Douglass F. Hoese

John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates, Dianne J. Bray & Douglass F. Hoese

Introduction

Nelson et al (2016) recognised six genera and 15 species in the Muraenesocidae, whereas previously Nelson (2006) included only four genera and eight species in the family. Four species in three genera are known from Australian waters. Previously Paxton et al. (2006) included the genus Gavialiceps in the Congridae.

Pike eels generally inhabit shallow tropical and warm temperate seas, although some species occur in estuaries and others in the deeper waters of the continental slope. Species may grow to more than 2 m in length.

No revision is available for the pike eels, although Castle & Williamson (1975) reviewed the genus Muraenesox and relatives. Smith (1999) treated all species known from Australia.

 

General References

Castle, P.H.J. & Williamson, G.R. 1975. Systematics and distribution of eels of the Muraenesox group (Anguilliformes, Muraenesocidae). A preliminary report and key. Special Publication of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology Rhodes University 15: 1-9 figs 1-4

Hobbs, J-P.A., Newman, S.J., Mitsopoulos, G.E.A., Travers, M.J., Skepper, C.L., Gilligan, J.J., Allen, G.R., Choat, H.J. & Ayling, A.M. 2014. Checklist and new records of Christmas Island fishes: the influence of isolation, biogeography and habitat availability on species abundance and community composition. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 30: 184–202

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C. & Wilson, M.V.H. 2016. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons 5, 752 pp.

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., Bray, D.J. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Muraenesocidae. pp. 282-283 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. [282]

Smith, D.G. 1999. Families Colocongridae, Derichthyidae, Muraenesocidae, Nemichtyhyidae, Congridae, Nettastomatidae, Serrivomeridae, Cyematidae, Saccopharyngidae, Eurypharyngidae, Monognathidae. pp. 1670-1697 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.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
05-Mar-2019 ELOPOMORPHA 20-Jun-2022 MODIFIED Dr Doug Hoese (AM)
24-Sep-2011 ANGUILLIFORMES 24-Sep-2011 MOVED Dr Dianne Bray
12-Feb-2010 (import)