Abstract
A new species of worm eel (Ophichthidae, subfamily Myrophinae), Scolecenchelys fuscogularis, is described from two specimens collected at 90–147 m depth off the coast of Japan. The new species is characterized by its dorsal-fin origin, which is located posterior to a vertical through the anus, its high total number of vertebrae (146–149), and its uniserial dentition on jaws and vomer. The new species is similar to Scolecenchelys australis and Scolecenchelys tasmaniensis in having 148–152 total and 60–61 preanal vertebrae and its uniserial teeth, but can be distinguished from the latter two species as it has a larger head [8.5–8.8 % of total length (TL) vs. 7.8–8.3 %], a longer trunk (39 % TL vs. 34–35 %), and a shorter tail (52–53 % TL vs. 56–58 %). Although S. fuscogularis most resembles Scolecenchelys chilensis in having 146–159 total and 59–64 preanal vertebrae and uniserial teeth, as well as in the proportions of the head, trunk and tail, the new species differs from the latter in having a smaller head (8.5–8.8 % TL vs. 8.9–9.7 %), a more slender body (body depth 1.5–1.6 % TL vs. 2.3–2.9 %), a more posterior dorsal-fin origin (horizontal distance between the origin and a vertical through the anus 83 % of head length vs. 36–54 %), no groove on the ventral side of its snout, and a dark lower jaw with a patch of melanophores on the ventral side of its branchial basket.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bauchot M-L, Maugé A (1980) Muraenichthys erythraeensis n. sp. de mer Rouge et première mention de Muraenichthys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897) en mer Rouge (Pisces, Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae). Bull Mus Natl d’Histoire Naturelle Ser 4 Sec A Zool Biol Ecol Anim 2:933–939
Bleeker P (1857) Achtste bijdrage tot de kennis der vischfauna van Amboina. Act Soc Reg Sci Indo-Neêr 2:1–102
Böhlke E (1982) Vertebral formulae of type specimens of eels. Proc Acad Nat Sci Philad 134:31–49
Castle PHJ, McCosker JE (1999) A new genus and two new species of myrophine worm-eels, with comments on Muraenichthys and Scolecenchelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Rec Aust Mus 51:113–122
Eschmeyer WN (2012) Catalog of fishes. Electronic version, updated 7 June 2012. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp. Accessed 12 June 2012
Fricke R, Eschmeyer WN (2012) Guide to fish collections. Electronic version, updated 7 June 2012. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/collections.asp. Accessed 12 June 2012
Hatooka K (2002) Family Ophichthidae. In: Nakabo T (ed) Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species, English edn. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, pp 215–217
Hibino Y, Kimura S, Hoshino K, Hatooka K, McCosker JE (2012) Validity of Scolecenchelys aoki, with a redescription of Scolecenchelys gymnota (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Ichthyol Res 59:179–188
Hoshino K, Hibino Y, Kimura S, Machida Y (2011) The worm eel, Muraenichthys okamurai Machida and Ohta 1996, a junior synonym of Muraenichthys borealis Machida and Shiogaki 1990. Ichthyol Res 58:184–187
Jordan DS, Snyder JO (1901) A review of the apodal fishes or eels of Japan, with descriptions of nineteen new species. Proc US Natl Mus 23:837–890
Machida Y, Ohta S (1993) Muraenichthys japonicus, a new worm eel from the Sea of Japan (Ophichthyidae: Myrophinae). Jpn J Ichthyol 40:323–326
Macleay W (1881) A descriptive catalogue of Australian fishes. Part IV. Proc Linn Soc NSW 6:202–387
McCosker JE (1970) A review of the eel genera Leptenchelys and Muraenichthys, with the descriptions of a new genus, Schismorhynchus, and a new species Muraenichthys chilensis. Pac Sci 24:506–516
McCosker JE (1979) The snake eels (Pisces, Ophichthidae) of the Hawaiian Islands, with the description of two new species. Proc Calif Acad Sci (Ser 4) 42:57–67
McCosker JE (2006) A new deepwater species of worm-eel, Scolecenchelys castlei (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from New Zealand and Australia, with comments on S. breviceps and S. macroptera. J Royal Soc NZ 36:17–26
McCosker JE, Parin NV (1995) A new species of deepwater worm-eel, Muraenichthys profundorum (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from the Nazca Ridge. Jpn J Ichthyol 42:231–235
McCosker JE, Ide S, Endo H (2012) Three new species of ophichthid eels (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Japan. Bull Natl Mus Nat Sci Ser A (Zool) (Suppl 6):1–16
McCulloch AR (1911) Report on the fishes obtained by the F. I. S. “Endeavour,” on the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Part I. Biol Results Endeavour 1:1–87
Nelson JS (2006) Fishes of the world. 4th edn. Wiley, Hoboken
Ogilby JD (1897) Some new genera and species of fishes. Proc Linn Soc NSW 22:245–251
Peters WCH (1866) Mittheilung über Fische (Protopterus, Auliscops, Labrax, Labracoglossa, Nematocentris, Serranus, Scorpis, Opisthognathus, Scombresox, Acharnes, Anguilla, Gymnomuraena, Chilorhinus, Ophichthys, Helmichthys). Monatsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaft zu Berlin 1866:509–526
Weber M, de Beaufort JF (1916) The fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. III. Ostariophysi: II Cyprinoidea, Apodes, Synbranchi. E. J. Brill, Leiden
Acknowledgments
We are deeply indebted to M. McGrother and S. Reader (AMS), G. Ogihara (KAUM), K. Hatooka (OMNH), and R. Bills and B. Konqobe (SAIAB) for their measurements and photographs of some of the type specimens. We express our sincere gratitude to the following persons and institutions for their assistance and specimen loans: M. McGrouther (AMS); M. Sabaj (ANSP); J. Macline (BMNH); H. Endo (BSKU); D. Catania (CAS); T. Nakabo (FAKU); G. Duhamel, P. Pruvost, and R. Causse (MNHN); K. Matsuura and G. Shinohara (NSMT); J.T. Williams (USNM). Lastly, we cordially thank John E. McCosker (CAS) for his critical comments on the manuscript and great help with the English.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Hibino, Y., Kai, Y. & Kimura, S. Scolecenchelys fuscogularis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae, Myrophinae), a new worm eel from Japan. Ichthyol Res 60, 43–47 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-012-0309-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-012-0309-8