Ophichthus hirritus is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[1] It was described by John E. McCosker in 2010.[2] It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the Seychelles Islands, in the western Indian Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth of 600 metres (2,000 ft). Males can reach a maximum total length of 52.8 centimetres (20.8 in), while females can reach a maximum TL of 53.4 centimetres (21.0 in).[1]
| Ophichthus hirritus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Ophichthus |
| Species: | O. hirritus
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| Binomial name | |
| Ophichthus hirritus J. E. McCosker, 2010
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The species epithet "hirritus" means "to snarl like a dog" in Latin, and refers to the eel's facial structure.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Ophichthus hirritus at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ McCosker, J. E., 2010 (14 June) [ref. 30840] Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species. Zootaxa No. 2505: 1-39.
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