Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan

Two new species of dark-body snake eels are described based on specimens collected from Taiwan. Ophichthus kbalanensis sp. nov. has a long tail; dorsal-fin origin above posterior third of pectoral fin; tip of lower jaw anterior to anterior-nostril tube; two simple, pointed protrusions along upper li...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yusuke Hibino, Hsuan-Ching Ho, Jian-Fu Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2024-12-01
Series:ZooKeys
Online Access:https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/126337/download/pdf/
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Two new species of dark-body snake eels are described based on specimens collected from Taiwan. Ophichthus kbalanensis sp. nov. has a long tail; dorsal-fin origin above posterior third of pectoral fin; tip of lower jaw anterior to anterior-nostril tube; two simple, pointed protrusions along upper lip; preoperculomandibular pores 6 or 7 + 3; teeth on jaws and vomer mostly uniserial, except for biserial on posterior portion of maxilla and anterior portion of symphysis of dentary; vertebral formula 12-55-153 and median fins with narrow dark margins, except the pale fin origins. Ophichthus multidentis sp. nov. has a dorsal-fin origin well behind gill opening; mainly 4 rows of teeth on jaws; no protrusions along upper lip; a smaller head; mean vertebral formula 24-64-163 and pale median fins. Based on some recent papers and our result, a revised key to species is herein provided.
ISSN:1313-2970