Sailfin eel

The Sailfin eel (Paraletharchus pacificus, also known commonly as the Pacific sailfin eel in Mexico[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Raymond Carroll Osburn and John Treadwell Nichols in 1916, originally under the genus Letharchus.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean (from which its species epithet is derived), including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.[5] It is known to dwell at a depth of 35 metres (115 ft), and inhabits rock and sand sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 81 centimetres (32 in).[3]

Sailfin eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Paraletharchus
Species:
P. pacificus
Binomial name
Paraletharchus pacificus
(Osburn & Nichols, 1916)
Synonyms[1]
  • Letharchus pacificus Osburn & Nichols, 1916

Due to its wide distribution, lack of known threats, and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Sailfin eel as Least Concern.[5]

References
  1. Synonyms of Paraletharchus pacificus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names of Paraletharchus pacificus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Paraletharchus pacificus at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Osburn, R. C. and J. T. Nichols, 1916 (26 May) [ref. 15062] Shore fishes collected by the "Albatross" expedition in Lower California, with descriptions of new species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History v. 35 (art. 16): 139-181.
  5. Paraletharchus pacificus at the IUCN redlist.


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