Notes on Hawaiian Snake Eels (Pisces: Ophichthidae), with Comments on Ophichthus bonaparti
Notes on Hawaiian Snake Eels (Pisces: Ophichthidae), with Comments on Ophichthus bonaparti
Date
2002-01
Authors
McCosker, John E.
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University of Hawai'i Press
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Abstract
The 22 ophichthid eel species of the Hawaiian Islands (including
Johnston and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands) are reviewed, and a key to
their identification is provided. New Hawaiian records of Indo-Pacific species
include Callechelys catostoma and Ophichthus bonaparti. Callechelys lutea is reported
from Johnston Island. Hawaiian and Johnston Island ophichthid species comprise:
Apterichtus flavicaudus, Brachysomophis crocodilinus, B. henshawi, Callechelys
catostoma, C. lutea, Cirrhimuraena playfairii, Ichthyapus vulturis, Leiuranus semicinctus,
Muraenichthys schultzei, Myrichthys colubrinus, M. magnificus, Ophichthus
bonaparti, O. erabo, 0. kunaloa, O. polyophthalmus, Phaenomonas cooperae, Phyllophichthus
xenodontus, Schismorhynchus labialis, Schultzidia johnstonensis, Scolecenchelys
cookei, S. gymnota, and S. puhioilo. Additional data are provided for the
rare deep-water species Ophichthus kunaloa. The following synonymies are proposed:
Ophisurus chrysospilos Bleeker, Poecilocephalus markworti Kaup, Ophichthys
episcopus Castelnau, and Ophichthys garretti Giinther = Ophichthus bonaparti
(Kaup); and Ophichthus retifer Fowler = Ophichthus erabo (Jordan & Snyder).
The endemism and distribution of Hawaiian and Johnston Island ophichthids
(22.7%) are discussed and compared with those of muraenid eels. Vertebral formulas
are provided for all species to facilitate the identification of leptocephali.
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McCosker JE. 2002. Notes on Hawaiian snake eels (Pisces: Ophichthidae), with comments on Ophichthus bonaparti. Pac Sci 56(1): 23-34.
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