Species Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup, 1856)
Blackfin Snake Eel, Black-finned Snake-eel
- Microdonophis altipennis Kaup, J.J. 1856. Uebersicht der Aale. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 22(1): 41-77 [43] [also appeared in Kaup, J.J. 1856. Catalogue of the apodal fish in the collection of the British Museum. London. Catalogue of the apodal fish in the collection of the British Museum.: 1-163, Pls. 1-19. [6, Pl.1 (fig.3)]].
Type data:
Syntype(s) MNHP 0000-2151, Ujung Pandang, Sulawesi (as Celebes), Indonesia. - Ophichthus melanochir Bleeker, P. 1864. Poissons inédits indo-archipélagiques de l'ordre des murènes. Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde 2: 38-54 [date usually as 1865; publication date from Pieters, F.F.J.M. & Dickinson, E.C. 2005. The specified dates of publication of Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde volumes 1-5 (1863-1884). Archives of Natural History 32 (1): 107-109] [44].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 1867.11.28.283, Ambon, Indonesia.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- McCosker, J.E. & Randall, J.E. 2002. Ophichthys melanochir Bleeker, 1865, a junior synonym of the highfin snake eel Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup, 1856). Copeia 2002(3): 798-799 [798]
Generic Combinations
- Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup, 1856). —
Bleeker, P. 1864. Atlas Ichthyologique des Indes Orientales Néerlandaises, publié sous les auspices du Gouvernement colonial néerlandais. Tome 4. Murènes, Symbranches, Leptocéphales. Amsterdam : Fréd. Müller 132 pp. pls 145-193. [50] (changed combination)
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Cape Naturaliste, WA (33º32'S, 115°02'E) to Tijou Reef (13º05'S, 143°57'E), QLD, also Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, and Lord Howe Island, Tasman Sea; tropical, west Pacific.
IMCRA
Lord Howe Province (14), Timor Province (2), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)
Other Regions
Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands
Distribution References
- Allen, G.R. 1993. Fishes of Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 44: 67-91 [72] (as O. melanochir)
- Allen, G.R. 2000. Fishes of the Montebello Islands. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 59: 47-57 [49] (as O. melanochir)
- Larson, H.K., Williams, R.S. & Hammer, M.P. 2013. An annotated checklist of the fishes of the Northern Territory, Australia. Zootaxa 3696(1): 1-293 [27]
- McGrouther, M.A. 13 Jul 2017. Black-finned Snake Eel (Ophichthus altipennis). iNaturalist: Australasian Fishes. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5371322 [viewed 13 Jul 2018]
- Moore, G.I., Morrison, S.M., Hutchins, B.J., Allen, G.R. and Sampey, A. 2014. Kimberley marine biota. Historical data: fishes. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 84: 161-206 [175]
Ecological Descriptors
Benthic, burrower, inshore, soft bottom.
Extra Ecological Information
5-30 m
General References
Allen, G.R. 1996. New records of reef and shore fishes from northwestern Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 18: 109-112 [56] (as Ophichthus melanochir)
Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls. [56] (as Ophichthus melanochir)
Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls. [34] (as Ophichthus melanochir)
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Checklist of the fishes of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 63: 9-50 [17]
Larson, H.K., Williams, R.S. & Hammer, M.P. 2013. An annotated checklist of the fishes of the Northern Territory, Australia. Zootaxa 3696(1): 1-293 [27]
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 [81] (as Ophichthus altipinnis and Ophichthus melanochir)
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. [271]
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. [119] (as Ophichthus melanochir)
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
Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls. [56] (Black-finned Snake-eel)
Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Blackfin 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] (Blackfin Snake Eel)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Mar-2019 | ELOPOMORPHA | 13-Jul-2018 | MODIFIED | Dr Doug Hoese (AM) |
| 24-Sep-2011 | ANGUILLIFORMES | 24-Sep-2011 | MOVED | Dr Dianne Bray |
| 27-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |