Larvae of the Ophichthid Eel Genus Neenchelys in the Indo-Pacific

Abstract

Larvae of Neenchelys Bamber are rather short and deep bodied, reaching about 75 mm before metamorphosis. They have a relatively short gut which is pigmented and slightly swollen at intervals along its length, as in larvae of other myrophine ophichthids. Neenchelys leptocephali also have a conspicuous midlateral patch of pigment about midway between the anus and caudal tip, and develop ova before metamorphosis.