The Painted eel[2] (Echelus myrus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally under the genus Muraena.[4] It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Bay of Biscay, the Republic of Congo, and the Mediterranean. It dwells at a depth range of 3 to 12 metres (9.8 to 39.4 ft), and inhabits burrows formed in sand and mud sediments in coastal lagoons and estuaries. Males can reach a maximum total length of 100 centimetres (39 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 60 centimetres (24 in).[3]
| Painted eel | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Echelus |
| Species: | E. myrus
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| Binomial name | |
| Echelus myrus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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The Painted eel is of minor commercial interest to fisheries.[3] It has been recorded spawning in the Bay of Algiers during the months of August and September.[5]
References edit
- ^ Synonyms of Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Common names of Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Linnaeus, C., 1758 (1 Jan.) [ref. 2787] Systema Naturae, Ed. X. (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) Holmiae. v. 1: i-ii + 1-824.
- ^ Spawning for Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.
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