Jump to content

Margined snake eel: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
GrahamBould (talk | contribs)
GrahamBould (talk | contribs)
mNo edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| color = pink
| name = Margined Snake Eel
| name = Margined snake eel
| image = Omochelys cruentifer.gif
| image = Omochelys cruentifer.gif
| image_width = 240px
| image_width = 240px
Line 15: Line 15:
}}
}}


The '''Margined Snake Eel''', ''Omochelys cruentifer'', is a [[snake eel]] in the genus ''[[Omochelys]]''. The most striking feature of this fish and one that distinguishes it from all other [[Gulf of Maine]] [[eel]]s is that the tip of its tail is hard and pointed. Other distinctive features are that it is only about one thirty-seventh to one thirty-eighth as deep as it is long; that its [[dorsal fin]] originates only a short distance behind the tips of the [[pectoral fin]]s when these are laid back; that its [[anal fin]] originates far behind its dorsal fin; that its snout is bluntly pointed; and that its mouth gapes rearward considerably beyond its eyes (but not so far back as in the [[long-nosed eel]]). The dorsal and anal fins end a little in front of the tip of the tail. The gill openings are short new-moon-shaped slits, close in front of the bases of the pectoral fins. Its "peculiar and savage [[physiognomy]]" was stressed by its describers.
The '''margined snake eel''', ''Omochelys cruentifer'', is a [[snake eel]] in the genus ''[[Omochelys]]''. The most striking feature of this fish and one that distinguishes it from all other [[Gulf of Maine]] [[eel]]s is that the tip of its tail is hard and pointed. Other distinctive features are that it is only about one thirty-seventh to one thirty-eighth as deep as it is long; that its [[dorsal fin]] originates only a short distance behind the tips of the [[pectoral fin]]s when these are laid back; that its [[anal fin]] originates far behind its dorsal fin; that its snout is bluntly pointed; and that its mouth gapes rearward considerably beyond its eyes (but not so far back as in the [[long-nosed eel]]). The dorsal and anal fins end a little in front of the tip of the tail. The gill openings are short new-moon-shaped slits, close in front of the bases of the pectoral fins. Its "peculiar and savage [[physiognomy]]" was stressed by its describers.


It was originally described as brownish yellow uniformly. However, those that have been sighted have been light brown uniformly, with large snake eels being darker than small ones. A young specimen about 2½ inches (6½ cm) long was pale with dark speckles.
It was originally described as brownish yellow uniformly. However, those that have been sighted have been light brown uniformly, with large snake eels being darker than small ones. A young specimen about 2½ inches (6½ cm) long was pale with dark speckles.
Line 24: Line 24:
==External links==
==External links==
* http://www.gma.org/fogm/Omochelys_cruentifer.htm
* http://www.gma.org/fogm/Omochelys_cruentifer.htm

[[Category:Anguilliformes]]
[[Category:Ophichthidae]]

Revision as of 17:33, 11 November 2006

Margined snake eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
O. cruentifer
Binomial name
Omochelys cruentifer
(Goode and Bean, 1896)

The margined snake eel, Omochelys cruentifer, is a snake eel in the genus Omochelys. The most striking feature of this fish and one that distinguishes it from all other Gulf of Maine eels is that the tip of its tail is hard and pointed. Other distinctive features are that it is only about one thirty-seventh to one thirty-eighth as deep as it is long; that its dorsal fin originates only a short distance behind the tips of the pectoral fins when these are laid back; that its anal fin originates far behind its dorsal fin; that its snout is bluntly pointed; and that its mouth gapes rearward considerably beyond its eyes (but not so far back as in the long-nosed eel). The dorsal and anal fins end a little in front of the tip of the tail. The gill openings are short new-moon-shaped slits, close in front of the bases of the pectoral fins. Its "peculiar and savage physiognomy" was stressed by its describers.

It was originally described as brownish yellow uniformly. However, those that have been sighted have been light brown uniformly, with large snake eels being darker than small ones. A young specimen about 2½ inches (6½ cm) long was pale with dark speckles.

References