Cutthroat eel
Encyclopedia
Cutthroat eels are a family, Synaphobranchidae, of eel
s, the only member of the suborder Synaphobranchoidei. They are found worldwide in temperate and tropical seas.
Cutthroat eels range from 23 centimetres (9.1 in) to 160 centimetres (63 in) in length. They are bottom-dwelling fish, found in deep waters down to about 3700 metres (12,139.1 ft). They are distinguished by the presence of telescopic eyes in the larva
e.
Family Synaphobranchidae
In some classifications (for example, ITIS
), this family is split, with Simenchelys in its own family, Simenchelyidae.
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
s, the only member of the suborder Synaphobranchoidei. They are found worldwide in temperate and tropical seas.
Cutthroat eels range from 23 centimetres (9.1 in) to 160 centimetres (63 in) in length. They are bottom-dwelling fish, found in deep waters down to about 3700 metres (12,139.1 ft). They are distinguished by the presence of telescopic eyes in the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e.
Genera and species
There are 38 species in 12 genera:Family Synaphobranchidae
- Genus AtractodenchelysAtractodenchelysAtractodenchelys is a genus of eels in the cutthroat eel family Synaphobranchidae. It currently contains the following species:* Atractodenchelys phrix C. H. Robins & C. R. Robins, 1970* Atractodenchelys robinsorum Karmovskaya, 2003...
(2 species) - Genus Diastobranchus (1 species)
- Genus DysommaDysommaDysomma is a genus of eels in the cutthroat eel family Synaphobranchidae. It currently contains the following species:* Dysomma anguillare Barnard, 1923 * Dysomma brevirostre...
(12 species) - Genus DysomminaDysomminaDysommina is a genus of eels in the cutthroat eel family Synaphobranchidae. It currently contains the following species:* Dysommina proboscideus * Dysommina rugosa Ginsburg, 1951...
(2 species) - Genus Haptenchelys (1 species)
- Genus HistiobranchusHistiobranchusHistiobranchus is a genus of eels in the family Synaphobranchidae. It currently contains the following species:* Histiobranchus australis * Histiobranchus bathybius...
(3 species) - Genus IlyophisIlyophisIlyophis is a genus of eels in the cutthroat eel family Synaphobranchidae. It currently contains the following species:* Ilyophis arx C. H. Robins, 1976* Ilyophis blachei Saldanha & Merrett, 1982* Ilyophis brunneus C. H...
(6 species) - Genus Linkenchelys (1 species)
- Genus MeadiaMeadiaMeadia is a genus of eels in the cutthroat eel family Synaphobranchidae. It currently contains the following species:* Meadia abyssalis * Meadia roseni H. K. Mok, C. Y. Lee & H. J. Chan, 1991...
(2 species) - Genus Simenchelys (1 species)
- Genus SynaphobranchusSynaphobranchusSynaphobranchus is a genus of eels in the cutthroat eel family Synaphobranchidae. It currently contains the following species:* Synaphobranchus affinis Günther, 1877...
(6 species) - Genus Thermobiotes 1 species)
In some classifications (for example, ITIS
Itis
Itis may refer to* Integrated Taxonomic Information System, a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species...
), this family is split, with Simenchelys in its own family, Simenchelyidae.