Goldspotted eel
The goldspotted eel (Myrichthys ocellatus), also known as the goldspotted snake eel or the dark-spotted snake eel,[2] is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Charles Alexandre Lesueur in 1825, originally under the genus Muraenophis.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda, southern Florida, USA; the Bahamas, Santa Catarina, and Brazil.[3] It dwells at a maximum depth of 15 metres (49 ft), and inhabits rocky and coral reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 110 centimetres (3.6 ft).[3]
Goldspotted eel | |
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Myrichthys ocellatus | |
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Species: | M. ocellatus |
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Myrichthys ocellatus (Lesueur, 1825) | |
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The Goldspotted eel is a commercial aquarium fish.[3] As is common with eels, it forages for food mostly during the night; its diet consists of crabs, stomatopods, and echinoderms.[5]
References
- Synonyms of Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.
- Common names of Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.
- Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.
- Lesueur, C. A. 1825 (Aug.) [ref. 17523] Descriptions of four new species of Muraenophis. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia v. 5 (pt 1): 107-109, Pl. 4.
- Food items reported for Myrichthys ocellatus at www.fishbase.org.