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Myrichthys pantostigmius — Details

Snake-eel learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: snake-eel (English), tieso (Espanol)

Myrichthys pantostigmius Jordan & McGregor in Jordan & Evermann, 1898

Clarion snake-eel, Revillagigedos snake-eel

Body elongate, cylindrical, compressed at rear; tail 58-63% of TL; snout short, conical, grooved underneath; jaws short, top one overhanging; teeth granular, small, fixed, in 2 irregular rows on jaws and on roof of mouth, those at top front and roof of mouth the largest; lips without barbells; eye moderate to large; gill openings at side, crescent shaped, vertical; front nostril tubular, rear opens into mouth; tip of tail a blunt, hard, finless point; dorsal fin origin on head behind nape, before gill opening nearer tip of snout than gill opening; pectoral fin broad based, short, relatively small, much shorter than width of its base.

Head and body tan, with numerous large dark blackish-brown spots all over head, throat, belly, and body, extending onto base of dorsal fin, spots smaller on head and throat; dorsal fin white margin; anal fin plain. In M. pantostigmius spots are smaller and less densely arranged than in M. tigrinus.

Size: 100 cm.

Habitat: rocks and sand.

Depth: 5-20 m.

The Revillagigedos and Clipperton.

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Biology

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Found in shallow waters (to 20 m) among rocks and sand (Ref. 40867).

McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1993 A revision of the snake eel genus Myrichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new eastern Pacific species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48(8):153-169. (Ref. 40867) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40867&speccode=2650

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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is found in the Eastern Pacific only near the Revillagigedo and Clipperton Islands (Robertson and Allen, 1996).

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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 5 (S) - 20 (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, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, TEP oceanic island (s) endemic, Multiple oceanic islands endemic, Island (s), Island (s) only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos), Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)

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Eastern Pacific: Revillagigedo and Clipperton islands.

McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1993 A revision of the snake eel genus Myrichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new eastern Pacific species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48(8):153-169. (Ref. 40867) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40867&speccode=2650

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Physical Description

Morphology

Size

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Length max (cm): 100.0 (S)

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Vertebrae: 158 - 168

McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1993 A revision of the snake eel genus Myrichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new eastern Pacific species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48(8):153-169. (Ref. 40867) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40867&speccode=2650

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Size

Max. size

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49.4 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 40867))

McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1993 A revision of the snake eel genus Myrichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new eastern Pacific species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48(8):153-169. (Ref. 40867) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40867&speccode=2650

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Diagnostic Description

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Head and body tan, with numerous large brown to brownish-black spots along sides and at the base of the dorsal fin; chin and throat with smaller spots; dorsal fin margin white, anal fin plain. Snout rounded. Pectoral fin length much less than its base, shorter than snout (Ref. 40867).

McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1993 A revision of the snake eel genus Myrichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new eastern Pacific species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48(8):153-169. (Ref. 40867) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40867&speccode=2650

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology

This benthic species is found in shallow waters to 20m depth among rocks and sand (McCosker and Rosenblatt, 1993).

Systems

Marine

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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Marine Only

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Reef (rock &/or coral), Rocks, Reef and soft bottom, Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom), Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Sand & gravel

FishBase Habitat: Bentho-Pelagic

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Environment

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benthopelagic; marine; depth range ? - 20 m (Ref. 40867)

McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt 1993 A revision of the snake eel genus Myrichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new eastern Pacific species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48(8):153-169. (Ref. 40867) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40867&speccode=2650

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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic worms, mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves, octopus/squid/cuttlefish, 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

LC

Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2010

Assessor/s

McCosker, J., Béarez, P., and Lea, B.

Reviewer/s

Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Justification

This species is known from five locations in the Revillagigedo and Clipperton Islands. However, no major threats to this species or its generalized sandy and rocky substrate habitat are known, and there is no current indication of population decline. It is listed as Least Concern.

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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed

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Trends

Population

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Population

No population information is available for this species.

Population Trend

Unknown

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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats

No major threats are known for this species. Although this species distribution is restricted to 5 islands within the two island groups, and lives in a relatively shallow water habitat, current or future ENSO/climate change events are not expected to affect this species or its habitat type in these areas (Glynn and Ault, 2000).

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Least Concern (LC)

IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006. http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073

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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions

There are no known specific conservation measures for this species.

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