Marble-toothed snake-eel explained

The Marble-toothed snake-eel (Pisodonophis daspilotus, also known as the Blunt-toothed snake eel[1]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by Charles Henry Gilbert in 1898.[3] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador.[4] It dwells in shallow waters at a maximum depth of 10m (30feet), and inhabits sand and mud sediments and mangroves. Males can reach a maximum total length of 68cm (27inches).[2]

The IUCN redlist currently lists the Marble-toothed snake eel as Near Threatened, due to the decline in mangroves in its range of habitat. The population of the Marble-toothed snake eel is estimated to have declined by 25% over a course of 10–15 years.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=13920&GenusName=Pisodonophis&SpeciesName=daspilotus&StockCode=13891 Common names of Pisodonophis daspilotus
  2. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=13920&genusname=Pisodonophis&speciesname=daspilotus Pisodonophis daspilotus
  3. Jordan, D. S. and B. W. Evermann, 1898 (26 Nov.) [ref. 2445] The fishes of North and Middle America: a descriptive catalogue of the species of fish-like vertebrates found in the waters of North America north of the Isthmus of Panama. Part III. Bulletin of the United States National Museum No. 47: i-xxiv + 2183a-3136.
  4. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/183962/0 Pisodonophis daspilotus