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Issue: Vol. 4462 No. 2: 27 Aug. 2018
Type: Article
Published: 2018-08-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4462.2.7
Page range: 251–256
Abstract views: 92
PDF downloaded: 2

Ophichthus johnmccoskeri sp. nov. (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae): a new snake eel from Indian waters, Bay of Bengal

Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, Odisha, India-761002.
Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya, Kismat Bajkul, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, Odisha, India-761002.
Marine Fish Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India 700 016
Pisces East coast of India West Bengal new species snake eel Ophichthinae

Abstract

A new species of snake eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae: Ophichthinae), Ophichthus johnmccoskeri sp. nov., is described from three specimens collected from the northern part of the Bay of Bengal, India. Ophichthus johnmccoskeri sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having the dorsal-fin origin well behind the pectoral-fin tips, by tooth pattern (lower jaw with a single row anteriorly followed by biserial teeth on anterior sides and tri-serial teeth posteriorly), and vertebral count (24 predorsal, 51–52 preanal, and 156–158 total).The new species has a single barbel between the anterior and posterior nostrils; vomerine teeth biserial anteriorly, multi to triserial and biserial medially and in a single row posteriorly; maxillary teeth biserial anteriorly and triserial posteriorly; tip of the lower jaw toothless; and tail length 1.6 times in total length.

 

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