The Pacific worm eel (Myrophis vafer, also known commonly as the worm eel in the United Kingdom[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert in 1883.[4] It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including California, USA, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, and Peru.[5] It dwells at a depth range of 1 to 12 metres (3.3 to 39.4 ft), and inhabits sand and mud sediments. Unlike many species of eel, it does not form burrows. Males can reach a maximum total length of 46 centimetres (1 ft 6 in).[3]
| Pacific worm eel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Myrophis |
| Species: | M. vafer
|
| Binomial name | |
| Myrophis vafer Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1883
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Young Pacific worm eels are drawn to lights at the sea's surface.[3] Due to its wide distribution, lack of known major threats and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the species as Least Concern.[5]
References
edit- ^ Synonyms of Myrophis vafer at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Common names of Myrophis vafer at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c Myrophis vafer at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Jordan, D. S. and C. H. Gilbert, 1883 (29 May) [ref. 10616] Description of two new species of fishes (Myrophis vafer and Chloroscombrus orqueta) from Panama. Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 5 (no. 334): 645-647.
- ^ a b Myrophis vafer at the IUCN redlist.
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