Typhlosynbranchus

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Typhlosynbranchus
Liberian swamp eel (T. boueti)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Synbranchiformes
Family: Synbranchidae
Subfamily: Synbranchinae
Genus: Typhlosynbranchus
Pellegrin, 1922
Type species
Typhlosynbranchus boueti
Pellegrin, 1922
Species

T. boueti
T. luticolus

Typhlosynbranchus is a genus of swamp eels that are native to West and Central Africa. It contains two species that were formerly classified in the primarily Asian genus Monopterus.[1][2][3]

Taxonomy[edit]

The genus was originally formed by Jacques Pellegrin in 1922 for the Liberian swamp eel, but later studies synonymized it with Monopterus. However, a 2020 study found significant divergence between the two taxa and revived the genus for M. boueti and the recently described M. luticolus.[1]

Species[edit]

One of the two species, T. boueti, is primarily found in aquatic environments, while the other (T. luticolus) has a fossorial lifestyle in inundated soil.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Osteology of 'Monopterus' roseni with the description of Rakthamichthys, new genus, and comments on the generic assignment of the Amphipnous Group species (Teleostei: Synbranchiformes)". Pfeil Verlag (in German). Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  2. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Typhlosynbranchus". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  3. ^ "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  4. ^ Britz, R., Doherty-Bone, T.M., Kouete, M.T., Sykes, D. & Gower, D.J. (2016): Monopterus luticolus, a new species of swamp eel from Cameroon (Teleostei: Synbranchidae). Archived 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 27 (4): 309-323.