Macrognathus pentophthalmos, the Sri Lanka five-eyed spiny eel, is a small species of spiny eel that is endemic to freshwater habitats in Sri Lanka. Described as a common species as recently as 1980, for unknown reasons its population rapidly declined in the following years and there are no recent confirmed records.[3] In 2012, it was listed as "Critically Endangered, possibly Extinct" in the Sri Lankan National Red List,[4] which was matched by IUCN in 2019.[1]
| Macrognathus pentophthalmos | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Synbranchiformes |
| Family: | Mastacembelidae |
| Genus: | Macrognathus |
| Species: | M. pentophthalmos
|
| Binomial name | |
| Macrognathus pentophthalmos (Gronow, 1854)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Mastacembelus pentophthalmos Gronow, 1854 | |
It is up to 19.5 cm (7.7 in) in standard length.[5] Compared to Mastacembelus armatus, the only other spiny eel in Sri Lanka, M. pentophthalmos has a striped/plain (not mottled) pattern, and clearly separated dorsal, caudal and anal fins.[3] The English name of M. pentophthalmos refers to the series of dark spots on its dorsal fin.[3]
Described as a new species in 1854, it was then considered a synonym of the widespread M. aral. In 2008 it was shown that this was mistaken and M. pentophthalmos was reinstated as a valid species (the true M. aral is not found in Sri Lanka).[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Fernado, M.; Kotagama, O. & de Alwis Goonatilake, S. (2019). "Macrognathus pentophthalmos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T196298A150839257. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T196298A150839257.en. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Macrognathus pentophthalmos". The Encyclopedia of Life.
- ^ a b c d Pethiyagoda, R.; A. Silva; K. Maduwage; L. Kariyawasam (2008). "The Sri Lankan Five-eyed Spiny Eel, Macrognathus pentophthalmos (Teleostei: Mastacembelidae), and its enigmatic decline". Zootaxa. 1931: 37–48. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1931.1.3.
- ^ MOE (2012). The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. ISBN 978-955-0033-55-3.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Macrognathus pentophthalmos". FishBase. April 2013 version.