Family MURAENESOCIDAE

Muraenesocidae

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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.

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

MURAENESOCIDAE: Congresox talabonoides (Bleeker, 1852) [recorded from Christmas Island by Tan et al.. 2014, and Hobbs et al. 2014, apparently based on an undescribed species of Chlopsidae according to K. Tighe in litt.] — 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; Tan, H.H., Naruse, T., Fujita, Y. & Tan, S.K. 2014. Observations on the fauna from submarine and associated anchialine caves in Christmas Island, Indian Ocean Territory, Australia. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 30: 406–418

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.

Common Name References

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. & Hanley, J.E. (eds) 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 7 665 pp. (Pike Eels)

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. [1673] (FAO) (Pike Congers)

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