Narrownecked oceanic eel
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 From plate 49 of Oceanic Ichthyology by G. Brown Goode and Tarleton H. Bean, published 1896.
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| Derichthys serpentinus Gill, 1884 |
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 Range map
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The narrownecked oceanic eel, Derichthys serpentinus, is a longneck eel, the only species in the genus Derichthys, found in all oceans in depths between 500 and 2,000 m. Their length is up to 40 cm.
The narrownecked oceanic eel has a snake-like head set on a long thin 'neck' and has large eyes, a blunt snout, and an underslung lower jaw. The hind part of the body is thicker than the neck and is fringed by the dorsal and anal fins. The horizontal gill slits are set well back on the throat.
The skin is scaleless and a uniform red-brown. It lives on the bottom at great depths.
[edit] References
- Derichthys serpentinus (TSN 161601). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 19 March 2006.
- "Derichthys serpentinus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
