The Pacific mud eel[1] (Pythonichthys asodes) is an eel in the family Heterenchelyidae (mud eels).[2] It was described by Richard Heinrich Rosenblatt and Ira Rubinoff in 1972.[2] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Nicaragua.[3] It dwells at a maximum depth of 17 metres, typically habituating muddy substrates in estuaries. It is able to survive in water with a low salt concentration.[3] Males can reach a maximum total length of 47.2 centimetres.[2] The eels' diet consists primarily of benthic gastropods and worms, and bivalves.[3]
| Pacific mud eel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Heterenchelyidae |
| Genus: | Pythonichthys |
| Species: | P. asodes
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pythonichthys asodes Rosenblatt & Rubinoff, 1972
| |
Due to its wide distribution, lack of threats and lack of observed population declines, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Pacific mud eel as Least Concern.[3]
References
edit- ^ Common names for Pythonichthys asodes at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c Pythonichthys asodes Archived 2013-04-12 at archive.today at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c d Pythonichthys asodes at the IUCN redlist.
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