Angry worm eel explained

The angry worm eel[1] (Skythrenchelys zabra) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by Peter Henry John Castle and John E. McCosker in 1999.[3] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern Indian and western central Pacific Ocean, including India, Indonesia, the Straits of Malacca, northern Australia, and the Philippines.[2] [4] It is known to inhabit shallow, turbid estuaries, and to a lesser extent the deeper water over soft substrates.[4] Males can reach a maximum total length of 29.6 centimetres.[2]

The species epithet "zabra" refers to the eel's ability to consume large prey.[2] Due to its wide distribution and variety of habitats, the IUCN redlist currently lists the angry worm eel as Least Concern.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=59403&GenusName=Skythrenchelys&SpeciesName=zabra&StockCode=49137 Common names for Skythrenchelys zabra
  2. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Skythrenchelys-zabra.html Skythrenchelys zabra
  3. Castle, P. H. J., and J. E. McCosker, 1999 (20 Oct) [ref. 24075] A new genus and two new species of Myrophine worm-eels, with comments on Muraenichthys and Scolecenchelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Records of the Australian Museum v. 51 (nos 2-3): 113-122.
  4. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/154683/0 Skythrenchelys zabra