The goldspotted eel (Myrichthys ocellatus), also known as the goldspotted snake eel or the dark-spotted snake eel,[3] is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[4] It was described by Charles Alexandre Lesueur in 1825, originally under the genus Muraenophis.[5] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda, southern Florida, USA; the Bahamas, Santa Catarina, and Brazil.[4] It dwells at a maximum depth of 15 metres (49 ft), and inhabits rocky and coral reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 110 centimetres (3.6 ft).[4]
| Goldspotted eel | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Myrichthys |
| Species: | M. ocellatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Myrichthys ocellatus (Lesueur, 1825)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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The Goldspotted eel is a commercial aquarium fish.[4] As is common with eels, it forages for food mostly during the night; its diet consists of crabs, stomatopods, and echinoderms.[6]
References
edit- ^ McCosker, J. (2015). "Myrichthys ocellatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T190440A1952002. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T190440A1952002.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Synonyms of Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Common names of Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c d Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Lesueur, C. A. 1825 (Aug.) [ref. 17523] Descriptions of four new species of Muraenophis. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia v. 5 (pt 1): 107-109, Pl. 4.
- ^ Food items reported for Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.
External links
edit- Photos of Goldspotted eel on Sealife Collection
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