Echiophis punctifer

Echiophis punctifer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Echiophis
Species:
E. punctifer
Binomial name
Echiophis punctifer
(Kaup, 1859)
Synonyms
  • Crotalopsis punctifer Kaup, 1859
  • Mystriophis punctifer (Kaup, 1859)
  • Conger mordax Poey, 1860
  • Echiophis mordax (Poey, 1860)
  • Ophichthys schneideri Steindachner, 1879
  • Mystriophis creutzbergi Cadenat, 1956
  • Echiophis creutzbergi (Cadenat, 1956)

Echiophis punctifer, the stippled spoon-nose eel, spoon-nose eel or snapper eel, is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by Johann Jakob Kaup in 1859. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, northern South America, Senegal, and Angola. It dwells at a depth range of 40 to 100 metres (130 to 330 ft), and inhabits shallow bays and lagoons, in which it forms burrows in mud and sand. Males can reach a maximum total length of 180 centimetres (71 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 100 centimetres (39 in).

The species epithet "punctifer", treated as a name in apposition, means "dotted" in Latin, and refers to the eel's colouration.

The eel is pinkish in color and has small dots, similar to leopard print.

References

  1. ↑ McCosker, J. (2015). Echiophis punctifer. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T199272A2577050.en
  2. ↑ Synonyms of Echiophis punctifer. Fishbase
  3. ↑ Common names of Echiophis punctifer. Fishbase
  4. 1 2 3 Echiophis punctifer. Fishbase