Macrognathus pentophthalmos

Macrognathus pentophthalmos, the Sri Lanka five-eyed spiny eel, is a small species of spiny eel that is endemic to freshwater habitats in Sri Lanka. Described as a common species as recently as 1980, for unknown reasons its population rapidly declined in the following years and there are no recent confirmed records.[3] In 2012, it was listed as "Critically Endangered, possibly Extinct" in the Sri Lankan National Red List,[4] which was matched by IUCN in 2019.[1]

Macrognathus pentophthalmos

Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Synbranchiformes
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Macrognathus
Species:
M. pentophthalmos
Binomial name
Macrognathus pentophthalmos
(Gronow, 1854)
Synonyms[2]

Mastacembelus pentophthalmos Gronow, 1854

It is up to 19.5 cm (7.7 in) in standard length.[5] Compared to Mastacembelus armatus, the only other spiny eel in Sri Lanka, M. pentophthalmos has a striped/plain (not mottled) pattern, and clearly separated dorsal, caudal and anal fins.[3] The English name of M. pentophthalmos refers to the series of dark spots on its dorsal fin.[3]

Described as a new species in 1854, it was then considered a synonym of the widespread M. aral. In 2008 it was shown that this was mistaken and M. pentophthalmos was reinstated as a valid species (the true M. aral is not found in Sri Lanka).[3]

References
  1. Fernado, M.; Kotagama, O. & de Alwis Goonatilake, S. (2019). "Macrognathus pentophthalmos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T196298A150839257. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T196298A150839257.en. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  2. "Macrognathus pentophthalmos" at the Encyclopedia of Life
  3. Pethiyagoda, R.; A. Silva; K. Maduwage; L. Kariyawasam (2008). "The Sri Lankan Five-eyed Spiny Eel, Macrognathus pentophthalmos (Teleostei: Mastacembelidae), and its enigmatic decline". Zootaxa. 1931: 37–48. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1931.1.3.
  4. MOE (2012). The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. ISBN 978-955-0033-55-3.
  5. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Macrognathus pentophthalmos" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
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