The lesser thrush eel, also known as the common worm eel and the spaghetti eel,[1] (Moringua microchir) is an eel in the family Moringuidae (spaghetti/worm eels).[2] It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1853.[3] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from East Africa, Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands, and the southern Great Barrier Reef. It typically dwells at a depth range of 3–20 m, with juveniles inhabiting estuaries and rivers, adult females leading a benthic lifestyle in shallow oceanic waters, and adult males living in the pelagic zone. Adults breed offshore. Males can reach a maximum total length of 47 cm.[2]
| Lesser thrush eel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Moringuidae |
| Genus: | Moringua |
| Species: | M. microchir
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| Binomial name | |
| Moringua microchir Bleeker, 1853
| |
The lesser thrush eel's diet consists primarily of crustaceans and bony fish.[4]
References
edit- ^ Common names for Moringua microchir at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b Moringua microchir at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Bleeker, P., 1853 [ref. 16900] Derde bijdrage tot de kennis der ichthyologische fauna van Amboina. Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indië v. 4: 91–130.
- ^ Food items reported for Moringua microchir at www.fishbase.org.
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