Pygmy pikeconger

Pygmy pikeconger
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Nettastomatidae
Genus: Nettenchelys
Species:
N. pygmaea
Binomial name
Nettenchelys pygmaea
Smith & Böhlke, 1981
Synonyms
  • Nettenchelys pygmaeus Smith & Böhlke, 1981

The pygmy pikeconger or pygmy duckbill eel, (Nettenchelys pygmaea) is an eel in the family Nettastomatidae (duckbill/witch eels). It was described by David G. Smith and James Erwin Böhlke in 1981. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean, including Venezuela and the Gulf of Mexico, and possibly more locations. It is known to dwell at a depth range of 128 to 280 meters (420 to 919 ft). Males can reach a maximum total length of 20.1 centimeters (7.9 in).

The species epithet "pygmaea", meaning "small" in Greek, refers to the small size of mature specimens.

References

  1. 1 2 Smith, D.G. 2015. "Nettenchelys pygmaea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species e.T199059A2554635. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T199059A2554635.en. Retrieved 25 August 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Bailly, Nicolas (2008). "Nettenchelys pygmaea Smith & Böhlke, 1981". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Nettenchelys pygmaea". FishBase.
  4. ↑ Smith, D. G., J. E. Böhlke and P. H. J. Castle, 1981 (20 July) [ref. 6158] A revision of the nettastomatid eel genera Nettastoma and Nettenchelys (Pisces: Anguilliformes), with descriptions of six new species. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington v. 94 (no. 2): 533-560.