Letharchus aliculatus

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
OphichthidaeLetharchus aliculatusMcCosker1974Striped Sailfin Eel

Letharchus aliculatus

Unique Characters: Tail tip a hard or fleshy finless point. Dorsal fin present, generally elevated, its origin on nape above supraoccipital. Pectoral and anal fins absent. Gill openings unconstructed, inferior, parallel or converging forward, isthmus narrower than gill opening length. Anterior nostril a hole, without a raised rim. Trunk and tail cream-colored, over- lain with a broad brown mid-lateral stripe running the entire length of the body.

Similar Species: Sailfin Eel Letharchus velifer. Tail tip a hard or fleshy finless point. Dorsal fin present, generally elevated, its origin on nape above supraoccipital. Pectoral and anal fins absent. Gill openings unconstructed, inferior, parallel or converging forward, isthmus narrower than gill opening length. Anterior nostril a hole, without a raised rim. Trunk and tail uniform dark brown to black; head brown or black, body not spotted with white markings; dorsal fin white.

Reference: McCosker, J.E. 1974. A revision of the ophichthid eel genus Letharchus. Copeia. 1974 (No. 3): 619-629.

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