Ethadophis merenda — Details

Snack Eel learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: snake-eel (English), tieso (Espanol)
 
Ethadophis merenda Rosenblatt and McCosker 1970

Snack snake-eel

Very elongate, body depth at anus 1.8% of TL; head compressed; body cylindrical at front, compressed at rear; tail 49% of TL; snout rounded, overhanging well beyond lower jaw, which, ends just behind front nostrils, without a median longitudinal groove on underside; front nostril a short tube near tip of snout, rear nostril inside mouth just before eye, in a short tube with a front flap; eye small, behind center of mouth by a distance equal to distance between front nostrils; teeth small, conical, pointed, in single series on jaws and roof of mouth,  only the first central, upper front teeth exposed under overhanging snout when mouth is closed; gill openings crescent shaped, vertical, low on sides, widely separated under throat; gill pouch expanded; dorsal and anal fins forming ridges below the skin; dorsal fin origin on head, 1.5 snout lengths before gill opening; no pectorals; tip of tail finless, blunt and fleshy, dorsal and anal fin rays join tail fin rays underneath skin of tail; skin smooth, with papillae on front of head and tip of tail; lateral line from head to near tip of tail,  line straight between each pore; 159 vertebrae.
Color of preserved fish: Brown, paler below; dorsal fin ridge white

Length 53 cm.

Habitat and depth are not known as this species is only from the holotype collected from the stomach of a White weakfish, Atractosion nobilis, on the Pacific coast of Baja.

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Biology

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Benthic, the only specimen known was encountered in the stomach of a Atractoscion nobilis.
  • McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1995 Ophichthidae. Tiesos, serpentones. p. 1326-1341. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9328)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9328&speccode=13898 External link.
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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is endemic to Mexico, and is only known from the holotype taken from the stomach of a White Seabass at Thetis Bank off the west coast of Baja California (McCosker and Rosenblatt 1995).
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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 0 (S) - 3 (S)
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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific


 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, TEP non-endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic, Temperate Eastern Pacific, primarily, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Vagrant

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California)

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Eastern Central Pacific: Baja California, Mexico.
  • McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1995 Ophichthidae. Tiesos, serpentones. p. 1326-1341. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9328)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9328&speccode=13898 External link.
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Physical Description

Morphology

Size

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Length max (cm): 53.0 (S)
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Size

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Maximum size: 530 mm ---
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Max. size

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53.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9328))
  • McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1995 Ophichthidae. Tiesos, serpentones. p. 1326-1341. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9328)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9328&speccode=13898 External link.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
There is little known about this species biology or ecology.

Systems
  • Marine
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Habitat

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Salinity: Brackish

Inshore/Offshore: In & Offshore, Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Soft bottom only, Sand & gravel, Beach

FishBase Habitat: Demersal
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Environment

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demersal; marine
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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), bony fishes
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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
DD
Data Deficient

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
McCosker, J.E., Béarez, P. & Lea, R.N.

Reviewer/s
Collen, B., Richman, N., Beresford, A., Chenery, A. & Ram, M.

Contributor/s
De Silva, R., Milligan, H., Lutz, M., Batchelor, A., Jopling, B., Kemp, K., Lewis, S., Lintott, P., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Smith, J. & Livingston, F.

Justification
This species is only known from a single specimen. There is little known about this species distribution, population status, habitat requirements, ecology or threats. It is listed as Data Deficient.

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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

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Population
There is no population information available for this species.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
It is not known if this species is being impacted by any major threats.
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Data deficient (DD)
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
There are no species-specific conservation measures for this species. More research is needed on this species distribution, population status, biology, ecology and threats.
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