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...

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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/
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author Yusuke Hibino
Hsuan-Ching Ho
Jian-Fu Huang
author_facet Yusuke Hibino
Hsuan-Ching Ho
Jian-Fu Huang
author_sort Yusuke Hibino
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1313-2970
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Pensoft Publishers
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series ZooKeys
spelling doaj-art-c141900ca8584dc7831cb0fd5f90acd62024-12-11T08:31:45ZengPensoft PublishersZooKeys1313-29702024-12-011220637810.3897/zookeys.1220.126337126337Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from TaiwanYusuke Hibino0Hsuan-Ching Ho1Jian-Fu Huang2Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human HistoryAustralian MuseumNational Taiwan Ocean UniversityTwo 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.https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/126337/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Yusuke Hibino
Hsuan-Ching Ho
Jian-Fu Huang
Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan
ZooKeys
title Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan
title_full Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan
title_fullStr Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan
title_full_unstemmed Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan
title_short Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan
title_sort descriptions of two new dark body snake eels of the genus ophichthus anguilliformes ophichthidae from taiwan
url https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/126337/download/pdf/
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AT hsuanchingho descriptionsoftwonewdarkbodysnakeeelsofthegenusophichthusanguilliformesophichthidaefromtaiwan
AT jianfuhuang descriptionsoftwonewdarkbodysnakeeelsofthegenusophichthusanguilliformesophichthidaefromtaiwan