Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Myrophinae
Etymology: Scolecenchelys: Greek, skolex = worm (1855) + Greek, enchlys, -yos = eel (Ref. 45335); castlei: Named for Peter H.J. Castle.
Eponymy: Dr Peter Henry John Castle (1934–1999) was an ichthyologist at the School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand, which awarded all his degrees; bachelor’s (1955) master’s (1958), doctorate (1964) and DSc. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: McCosker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 425 - 820 m (Ref. 56887). Subtropical
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 58.0 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Diagnosis: Moderately elongate with tail 58-61% of TL; dorsal fin arises slightly behind middle of preanal distance; blunt snout; eye large, 7-10 times in HL with posterior margin behind corner of mouth; eye diameter greater than interorbital distance; small, numerous teeth, conical and biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly on jaws and vomer; color tan dorsally, pale ventrally, sharply delineated along mid-flank, peritoneum dark, anus within a black spot; MVF 32/62/181; total vertebrae 180-186 (Ref. 56887).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E., 2006. A new deepwater species of worm-eel, Scolecenchelys castlei (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from New Zealand and Australia, with comments on S. breviceps and S. macroptera. J. R. Soc. N. Z. 36(1):17-26. (Ref. 56887)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 6.2 - 9.6, mean 7.2 °C (based on 74 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00076 (0.00029 - 0.00197), b=3.06 (2.83 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100).
