Turret snake eel
Appearance
Turret snake eel | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Ophichthidae |
Genus: | Brachysomophis |
Species: | B. umbonis
|
Binomial name | |
Brachysomophis umbonis McCosker & Randall, 2001
|
The turret snake eel[1] (Brachysomophis umbonis) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by John E. McCosker and John Ernest Randall in 2001.[3] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Western Pacific, including Indonesia and the Philippines. It dwells at a depth range of 14 to 18 metres (46 to 59 ft), and inhabits sand and reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 13.9 centimetres (5.5 in).[2]
The species epithet, "umbonis", meaning "rounded protuberance" in Latin, refers to the prominent lateral projections of the eel's cheeks.[2]
References
- ^ Common names of Brachysomophis umbonis at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c Brachysomophis umbonis at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ McCosker, J. E. and J. E. Randall 2001 [ref. 25635] 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 No. 33: 1-32.