Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Pale brown, with a fine peppering of black spots on the back and sides of the body; ventral surface is light (Ref. 30499).
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Inhabits seagrass beds from bays and mangroves to offshore reefs. Adults move to open sea to spawn. The species has considerable regenerative powers (Ref. 5521). Tidal creeks and brackish estuaries offshore to depths of 7 m (Ref. 26938). Reported from fresh water in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Mexico (Ref. 30499). Caught for bait fishery with use of ichthyotoxic plants (e.g. 'cunabi') along the north Brazilian coast (Ref. 34896).
- Recorder
- Grace Tolentino Pablico
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Inhabits seagrass beds from bays and mangroves to offshore reefs. Adults move to open sea to spawn. The species has considerable regenerative powers (Ref. 5521). Tidal creeks and brackish estuaries offshore to depths of 7 m (Ref. 26938). Reported from fresh water in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Mexico (Ref. 30499). Caught for bait fishery with use of ichthyotoxic plants (e.g. 'cunabi') along the north Brazilian coast (Ref. 34896).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: commercial; bait: usually
Speckled worm eel
provided by wikipedia EN
The speckled worm-eel, Myrophis punctatus, is a member of the Ophichthidae (snake eel) family. It was described by Christian Frederik Lütken in 1852. M. punctatus have brown bodies that are lighter on the ventral side than the dorsal side. The upper body is speckled with pepper-like black spots. The snout is pointed.[1] This species has regenerative powers. They grow to a maximum size of 35.3 centimetres (1 ft 1.9 in).[2]
Habitat/Distribution
Depth range 0.4m-750m Temperature range 6.975 oC – 27.717 oC[2] The speckled worm eel is a benthic species.[2] It lives in tropical marine and brackish habitats that range from seagrass beds and mangroves to offshore reefs. They are found in the Western Atlantic around the island of Bermuda and from North Carolina to Brazil and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, the West Indies, and the coast of Central America, and all through the Caribbean.[3]
Reproduction
This species makes significant seasonal migrations.[2] They migrate to the sea to spawn.[3] They have leptocephalus larvae. Usually only juveniles are found inshore. They appear along the coast between December and May from drifting in from offshore spawning areas.[1]
Other information
They are caught as baitfish along the northern Brazilian coast using ichthyotoxic plants.[2] Locomotion type: Balistiform[3] Lobotes surinamensis and Thunnus thynnus thynnus feed on Myrophis punctatus.[3]
References
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^ a b McKee, David A. (2008) "Fishes of the Texas Laguna Madre: A Guide for Anglers and Naturalists, page 74.
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^ a b c d e "Myrophis punctatus" (eol.org/pages/207928/details)
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^ a b c d Myrophis punctatus at www.fishbase.org.
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Speckled worm eel: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The speckled worm-eel, Myrophis punctatus, is a member of the Ophichthidae (snake eel) family. It was described by Christian Frederik Lütken in 1852. M. punctatus have brown bodies that are lighter on the ventral side than the dorsal side. The upper body is speckled with pepper-like black spots. The snout is pointed. This species has regenerative powers. They grow to a maximum size of 35.3 centimetres (1 ft 1.9 in).
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- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Distribution
provided by World Register of Marine Species
off Banquereau Bank to Brazil
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Habitat
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Occasionally found in Canadian Atlantic waters.Found in seagrass beds from bays and mangroves to offshore reefs, as well as in tidal creeks and brackish estuaries to depths of 7 m.
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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- copyright
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Habitat
provided by World Register of Marine Species
benthic
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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