Heterenchelyidae

Family of fishes

Heterenchelyidae
Temporal range: Maastrichtian–present
PreꞒ
Ꞓ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Pythonichthys microphthalmus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Suborder: Muraenoidei
Family: Heterenchelyidae
Regan, 1912
Genera

Panturichthys
Pythonichthys

The Heterenchelyidae or mud eels are a small family of eels native to the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and eastern Pacific.

Heterenchelyids are bottom-dwelling fish adapted to burrowing into soft mud.[1] They have large mouths and no pectoral fins, and range from 32 to 149 cm (13 to 59 in) in length. Currently, eight species in two genera are recognized in this family.

The oldest known member of the family is Pythonichthys arkansasensis, known from fossilized otoliths from the Maastrichtian and Danian of the south-central United States.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ McClosker, John F. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 89. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
  2. ^ Schwarzhans, Werner; Stringer, Gary L. (2020-05-06). "Fish Otoliths from the Late Maastrichtian Kemp Clay (Texas, Usa) and the Early Danian Clayton Formation (Arkansas, Usa) and an Assessment of Extinction and Survival of Teleost Lineages Across the K-Pg Boundary Based on Otoliths". Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia. 126 (2). doi:10.13130/2039-4942/13425. ISSN 2039-4942.
  3. ^ Schwarzhans, Werner W.; Jagt, John W. M. (2021-11-01). "Silicified otoliths from the Maastrichtian type area (Netherlands, Belgium) document early gadiform and perciform fishes during the Late Cretaceous, prior to the K/Pg boundary extinction event". Cretaceous Research. 127: 104921. Bibcode:2021CrRes.12704921S. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104921. ISSN 0195-6671.
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Families by suborder
Protanguilloidei
Synaphobranchoidei
  • Synaphobranchidae (Cutthroat eels)
Muraenoidei
  • Heterenchelyidae (Mud eels)
  • Myrocongridae (Thin eels)
  • Muraenidae (Moray eels)
Chlopsoidei
  • Chlopsidae (False morays)
Congroidei
  • Congridae (Congers)
  • Derichthyidae (Longneck eels)
  • Muraenesocidae (Pike congers)
  • Nettastomatidae (Duckbill eels)
  • Ophichthidae (Snake eels)
Moringuoidei
  • Moringuidae (Spaghetti eels)
Saccopharyngoidei
  • Eurypharyngidae (Pelican eels)
  • Saccopharyngidae (Gulper eels)
  • Monognathidae (Onejaws)
  • Cyematidae (Bobtail snipe eels)
Anguilloidei
  • Anguillidae (Freshwater eels)
  • Nemichthyidae (Snipe eels)
  • Serrivomeridae (Sawtooth eels)
European conger eel
As food
Related topics
  • Category
  • Commons
Taxon identifiers
Heterenchelyidae


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