The snubnose snake eel[1] (Ophichthus brevirostris) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by John E. McCosker and Steve W. Ross in 2007.[3] It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from North Carolina, USA, in the western central Atlantic Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 370 to 440 meters (1,210 to 1,440 ft). Females can reach a total length of 29.2 centimeters (11.5 in).[2]

Snubnose snake eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Ophichthus
Species:
O. brevirostris
Binomial name
Ophichthus brevirostris
McCosker & Ross, 2007

The species epithet "brevirostris" means "short muzzle" in Latin, and is treated as a noun in apposition.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Common names for Ophichthus brevirostris at www.fishbase.org.
  2. ^ a b c Ophichthus brevirostris at www.fishbase.org.
  3. ^ McCosker, J. E. and S. W. Ross, 2007 (28 Dec.) [ref. 29436] A new deepwater species of snake eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from North Carolina. Copeia 2007 (no. 4): 783-787.