Apterichtus kendalli (Gilbert 1891) Gilbert 1891
- Dataset
- A review of the finless snake eels of the genus Apterichtus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of five new species
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Chordata
- class
- Actinopterygii
- order
- Anguilliformes
- family
- Ophichthidae
- genus
- Apterichtus
- species
- Apterichtus kendalli
diagnosis
Diagnosis. An elongate species with: tail 1.8 – 1.9, head 14 – 19, and body depth 53 – 67 in total length; 3 preopercular pores and 3 pores in supratemporal canal; teeth conical, uniserial on jaws and vomer; 5 – 7 vomerine teeth; body coloration nearly uniform pale yellow to tan, fresh specimens have a fine sprinkling of melanophores which can take on a mottled or freckled appearance; two brown blotches behind the eye surround a pale patch about equal to eye; and MVF 62 – 142, total vertebrae 137 – 145 (n = 14). Size. The largest specimen examined is 542 mm, sex unknown.
discussion
Remarks. Most of this treatment is taken from McCosker et al. (1989: 321 – 322). Leiby (1982) described and illustrated the leptocephalus of A. kendalli. The St. Helena record is based on Cadenat and Marchal’s (1963) description of 15 specimens (90 – 422 mm) collected by dredge at 43 m depth off Lemon Valley, St. Helena. A 363 mm specimen from that collection was described and illustrated by Blache and Bauchot (1972: 702 – 705) and agrees with A. kendalli in its cephalic pore condition, dentition, and vertebral number (143). Leiby (1981) stated that larvae identified as A. kendalli by Blache (1977) and by Fahay and Obenchain (1978) are actually Callechelys muraena.
distribution
Distribution. Known from the western Atlantic, from the Carolinas, Florida, Bermuda, Bahamas, Lesser Antilles and Brazil, and St. Helena Island, from between 6 – 401 m (mostly 30 – 80 m) depth.
materials_examined
Material examined. 26 specimens, 78 – 542 mm TL, including the holotype (USNM 44304, ca. 169 mm TL). Those specimens are listed in McCosker et al. (1989: 322).