Nemichthys curvirostris

Nemichthys curvirostris, the boxer snipe eel, is a snipe eel of the family Nemichthyidae. Like other snipe eels, they have incredibly narrow and elongated bodies, and small fins.

Nemichthys curvirostris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Nemichthyidae
Genus: Nemichthys
Species:
N. curvirostris
Binomial name
Nemichthys curvirostris
(Strömman, 1896)
Synonyms

Leptocephalus curvirostris
Leptocephalus polymerus

Habitat

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The eel lives at depths of up to 2,000 m. It has a probable global distribution.

Description

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The length is up to 143 centimetres (4.69 ft). It has long, narrow fine-boned delicate jaws, which are curved, and have small hooked teeth for swiping crustaceans, zooplankton, and sea snow from the water column. This eel is extremely delicate at touch, with a somewhat smooth, slimy skin, and diminutive eyes which are positioned near the rear end of the jaws.

Biology

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Feeds on crustaceans like amphipods, copepods, shrimp, and possibly also consumes fish eggs and sea snow. Reproduction is oviparous.

References

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Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Nemichthys curvirostris". FishBase. May 2006 version.

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Nemichthys curvirostris, boxer snipe eel 1 20 Feb. 2009 http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=9107.