Smallmouth spiny eel explained

The smallmouth spiny eel (Polyacanthonotus rissoanus), also called the shortspine tapirfish,^[1] is a species of deep-sea spiny eel.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Description

The smallmouth spiny eel is silver or brown in colour, with a maximum length of . It has 26–36 dorsal soft rays. It looks similar to Polyacanthonotus africanus but its lateral line is lighter and less distinct. It has a small mouth and a short preoral snout. Mature males are distinguished by their black nostrils.^[5]

Habitat

The smallmouth spiny eel lives in the Arctic waters off of Canada and in the North Atlantic Ocean off of Iceland, Ireland and Great Britain; it has also been observed in the waters off South Africa and in the Tasman Sea.^{[6] [7]} It is a benthic and bathydemersal species, living at depths of .^{[8] [9] [10]}

Behaviour

Polyacanthonotus rissoanus feeds on coelenterates, worms and crustaceans.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fishes of the Atlantic Coast of Canada. Alexander Henry. Leim. William Beverley. Scott. July 5, 1966. Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Google Books.
2. Web site: Polyacanthonotus rissoanus (De Filippi & Verany 1857) - Encyclopedia of Life. eol.org.
3. Book: Orders Heteromi (Notacanthiformes), Berycomorphi (Beryciformes), Xenoberyces (Stephanoberyciformes), Anacanthini (Gadiformes): Part 6. Daniel M.. Cohen. Alfred W.. Ebeling. Tomio. Iwamoto. Samuel B.. McDowell. N. B.. Marshall. Donn E.. Rosen. Pearl. Sonoda. Walter H. Weed. III. Loren P.. Woods. October 23, 2018. Yale University Press. 9781933789163. Google Books.
4. Web site: Israel Journal of Zoology. July 5, 1997. Weizmann Science Press of Israel.. Google Books.
5. Web site: Marine Species Identification Portal : Smallmouth spiny eel - Polyacanthonotus rissoanus. species-identification.org.
6. Web site: Polyacanthonotus rissoanus (De Filippi & Verany, 1857). www.gbif.org.
7. Web site: Figure 183. Records of Polyacanthonotus rissoanus (Shortspine.... ResearchGate.
8. Book: Smiths' Sea Fishes. Margaret M.. Smith. Phillip C.. Heemstra. December 6, 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 9783642828584. Google Books.
9. Web site: Polyacanthonotus rissoanus. fishesofaustralia.net.au.
10. Web site: WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Polyacanthonotus rissoanus (De Filippi & Verany, 1857). www.marinespecies.org.
11. Web site: Polyacanthonotus rissoanus, Smallmouth spiny eel. www.fishbase.se.