Goldspotted eel explained

The goldspotted eel (Myrichthys ocellatus), also known as the goldspotted snake eel or the dark-spotted snake eel,[1] is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by Charles Alexandre Lesueur in 1825, originally under the genus Muraenophis.[3] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda, southern Florida, USA; the Bahamas, Santa Catarina, and Brazil.[2] It dwells at a maximum depth of 15m (49feet), and inhabits rocky and coral reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 110cm (40inches).[2]

The Goldspotted eel is a commercial aquarium fish.[2] As is common with eels, it forages for food mostly during the night; its diet consists of crabs, stomatopods, and echinoderms.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=2651&GenusName=Myrichthys&SpeciesName=ocellatus&StockCode=2847 Common names of Myrichthys ocellatus
  2. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Myrichthys-ocellatus.html Myrichthys ocellatus
  3. Lesueur, C. A. 1825 (Aug.) [ref. 17523] Descriptions of four new species of Muraenophis. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia v. 5 (pt 1): 107-109, Pl. 4.
  4. http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItemsList.php?vstockcode=2847&genus=Myrichthys&species=ocellatus Food items reported for Myrichthys ocellatus