Family OPHICHTHIDAE

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Introduction

In 1989, McCosker, Böhlke & Böhlke estimated that the Ophichthidae include 52 genera and about 250 species in two subfamilies. Currently 59 genera and 319 species are known (Nelson et al. 2016). Previously, McCosker (1977) recognised two subfamilies, 49 genera and 235 species. The group is represented in Australia by 49 described species (and at least some undescribed species) in 24 genera.

Snake eels are generally small fishes that burrow in sand around coral reefs or in mud along the continental shelf in tropical and warm temperate oceans of the world. Species vary in size from about 10 cm to 2.7 m.

No comprehensive work is available on the identification of all the snake eels. McCosker (1970) provided a key to Muraenichthys, but the key is out of date for Australian species with most species now placed in Scolecenchelys (Castle & McCosker 1999). Smith & McCosker (1999) presented a key to many of the tropical species from Australia. McCosker (2006) described a new species of Scolecenchelys from Australia. McCosker (2010) revised the deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the genus Ophichthus. Ho et al. (2013) revised the genus Neenchelys. Useful works for identification include McCosker (1972, 1979, 1998, 2002), McCosker & Rosenblatt (1970, 1993), McCosker & Randall (2001, 2005) Smith (1962) and Castle (1965). Relationships are discussed in McCosker (1979) and McCosker et al. (1989).

 

General References

Castle, P.H.J. 1965. Ophichthid leptocephali in Australasian waters. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Zoology 7(6): 97-123 figs 1-3

Castle, P.J. & McCosker, J.E. 1999. A new genus and two new species of Myrophine worm-eels, with comments on Muraenichthys and Scolecenchelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Records of the Australian Museum 51(2, 3): 113-122

Ho, H-C., McCosker, J.E. & Smith, D.G. 2013. Revision of the worm eel genus Neenchelys (Ophichthidae: Myrophinae), with descriptions of three new species from the western Pacific Ocean. Zoological Studies 52(58-78.)

McCosker, J.E. 1970. A review of the eel genera Leptenchelys and Muraenichthys, with the description of a new genus, Schismorhynchus, and a new species, Muraenichthys chilensis. Pacific Science 24(4): 506-516 figs 1-6

McCosker, J.E. 1972. Two new genera and two new species of western Pacific snake eels (Apodes : Ophichthidae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 39(10): 111-120 figs 1-5

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

McCosker, J.E. 1979. The snake eels (Pisces, Ophichthidae) of the Hawaiian Islands, with the descriptions of two new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 42(2): 57-67 figs 1-6

McCosker, J.E. 1998. A revision of the snake-eel genus Callechelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with description of two new Indo-Pacific species and a new callechelyin genus. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 50(7): 185-215

McCosker, J.E. 2002. Notes on Hawaiian snake eels (Pisces: Ophichthidae), with comments on Ophichthus bonaparti. Pacific Science 56(1): 23-34

McCosker, J.E. 2006. A new deepwater species of worm-eel, Scolecenchelys castlei (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from New Zealand and Australia, with comments on S. breviceps and S. macroptera. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 36(1): 17-26

McCosker, J.E. 2010. Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species. Zootaxa 2505: 1-39

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.

McCosker, J.E., Böhlke, E.B. & Böhlke J.E. 1989. Family Ophichthidae. pp. 254-412 in Böhlke, E.B. (ed.). Orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes. Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir. Sears Foundation of Marine Research 1(9): 1-655

McCosker, J.E. & Randall, J.E. 2001. Revision of the snake-eel genus Brachysomophis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with description of two new species and comments on the species of Mystriophis. Indo-Pacific Fishes 33: 1-32

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

McCosker, J.E. & Rosenblatt, R.H. 1970. Eastern Pacific snake-eels of the genus Callechelys (Apodes : Ophichthidae). Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 17(2): 15-24 figs 1-5

McCosker, J.E. & Rosenblatt, R.H. 1993. A revision of the snake eel genus Myrichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new eastern Pacific species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 48(8): 153-169

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

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.

Smith, D.G. & McCosker, J.E. 2008. Family Ophichthidae. pp. 166-169 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Smith, J.L.B. 1962. Sand-dwelling eels of the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute, Grahamstown 24: 447-466 figs 1-12 pls 64-68

 

Common Name References

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. [1662] (FAO) (Snake Eels, Worm Eels)

Whitley, G.P. 1966. Marine Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : Jacaranda Press Vol. 1 pp. 1-142. [28] (Snake Eels, Worm Eels)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
05-Mar-2019	ELOPOMORPHA	15-Aug-2018	MODIFIED	Dr Doug Hoese (AM)
24-Sep-2011	ANGUILLIFORMES	24-Sep-2011	MOVED	Dr Dianne Bray
		12-Feb-2010	(import)