The angry worm eel[2] (Skythrenchelys zabra) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Peter Henry John Castle and John E. McCosker in 1999.[4] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern Indian and western central Pacific Ocean, including India, Indonesia, the Straits of Malacca, northern Australia, and the Philippines.[3][1] It is known to inhabit shallow, turbid estuaries, and to a lesser extent the deeper water over soft substrates.[1] Males can reach a maximum total length of 29.6 centimetres.[3]
| Angry worm eel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Skythrenchelys |
| Species: | S. zabra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Skythrenchelys zabra | |
The angry worm eel (Skythrenchelys zabra) has a long, thin, brown body and lacks pectoral fins. It has a large gill opening below the body. It has very small eyes, with nonuniform teeth.
The species epithet "zabra" refers to the eel's ability to consume large prey.[3] Due to its wide distribution and variety of habitats, the IUCN redlist currently lists the angry worm eel as Least Concern.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d McCosker, J.E. (2017) [errata version of 2010 assessment]. "Skythrenchelys zabra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T154683A115221546. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T154683A115221546.en. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ Common names for Skythrenchelys zabra at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c d Skythrenchelys zabra at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Castle, P. H. J., and J. E. McCosker, 1999 (20 Oct) [ref. 24075] A new genus and two new species of Myrophine worm-eels, with comments on Muraenichthys and Scolecenchelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Records of the Australian Museum v. 51 (nos 2-3): 113-122.
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