Scolecenchelys Explained

Scolecenchelys is a genus of eels in the snake eel family Ophichthidae.

Species

There are currently 21 recognized species in this genus:

• Scolecenchelys acutirostris (M. C. W. Weber & de Beaufort, 1916) (Sharp-nose worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys aoki (D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1901) (Misaki worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys australis (W. J. Macleay, 1881) (Short-fin worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys brevicaudata Hibino & Kimura, 2015 (Short-tail worm eel) ^[1]
• Scolecenchelys breviceps (Günther, 1876) (Short-headed worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys castlei J. E. McCosker, 2006 (Deep-water bigeyed worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys chilensis (J. E. McCosker, 1970) (Chilean worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys cookei (Fowler, 1928)
• Scolecenchelys fuscapenis J. E. McCosker, S. Ide & Endo, 2012 (Black-tailed worm eel) ^[2]
• Scolecenchelys fuscogularis Hibino, Y. Kai & Kimura, 2013 (Dark-throat worm eel) ^[3]
• Scolecenchelys godeffroyi (Regan, 1909) (Godeffroy worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys gymnota (Bleeker, 1857) (Slender worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys iredalei (Whitley, 1927) (Coral worm eel) ^[1]
• Scolecenchelys laticaudata (J. D. Ogilby, 1897) (Red-fin worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys macroptera (Bleeker, 1857) (Narrow worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys nicholsae (Waite, 1904) (Nichols' worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys profundorum (J. E. McCosker & Parin, 1995) (Deep-water worm eel)
• Scolecenchelys puhioilo (J. E. McCosker, 1979)
• Scolecenchelys robusta Hibino & Kimura, 2015 (Robust worm eel) ^[1]
• Scolecenchelys vermiformis (W. K. H. Peters, 1866)
• Scolecenchelys xorae (J. L. B. Smith, 1958) (Orange-head worm eel)

Notes and References

1. Hibino, Y. & Kimura, S. (2015): Revision of the Scolecenchelys gymnota species group with descriptions of two new species (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae: Myrophinae). Ichthyological Research, 63 (1): 1-22.
2. McCosker, J.E., Ide, S. & Endo, H. (2012): Three new species of ophichthid eels (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Japan. Bulletin of the National Museum of Natural Science, Ser. A., Supplement No. 6: 1-16.
3. Hibino, Y., Kai, Y. & Kimura, S. (2013): Scolecenchelys fuscogularis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae, Myrophinae), a new worm eel from Japan. Ichthyological Research, 60 (1): 43-47.