Sailfin eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Paraletharchus
Species:
P. pacificus
Binomial name
Paraletharchus pacificus
(Osburn & Nichols, 1916)
Synonyms[1]
  • Letharchus pacificus Osburn & Nichols, 1916

The Sailfin eel (Paraletharchus pacificus, also known commonly as the Pacific sailfin eel in Mexico[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Raymond Carroll Osburn and John Treadwell Nichols in 1916, originally under the genus Letharchus.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean (from which its species epithet is derived), including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.[5] It is known to dwell at a depth of 35 metres (115 ft), and inhabits rock and sand sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 81 centimetres (32 in).[3]

Due to its wide distribution, lack of known threats, and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Sailfin eel as Least Concern.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Synonyms of Paraletharchus pacificus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. ↑ Common names of Paraletharchus pacificus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. 1 2 Paraletharchus pacificus at www.fishbase.org.
  4. ↑ Osburn, R. C. and J. T. Nichols, 1916 (26 May) [ref. 15062] Shore fishes collected by the "Albatross" expedition in Lower California, with descriptions of new species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History v. 35 (art. 16): 139-181.
  5. 1 2 Paraletharchus pacificus at the IUCN redlist.


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