Castleichthys, Smith, 2004

Smith, David G., 2004, A New Genus and Species of Congrid Eel (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Congridae) from Western Australia, Records of the Australian Museum 56 (2), pp. 143-146 : 143-144

Castleichthys n.gen.

Type species. Castleichthys auritus n.sp.

Diagnosis. Body moderately elongate; preanal length less than 40% TL; tip of tail slender and flexible, but not greatly attenuate or filiform; pectoral fin well developed; dorsal origin slightly behind tip of appressed pectoral fin; dorsal- and anal-fin rays segmented; jaws equal, rictus below middle of eye; flange present on upper lip; skin of head without papillae or plicae; eye relatively large; posterior nostril at mid-eye level. Teeth small, not caniniform or molariform; maxillary teeth uniserial, mandibular teeth uniserial for most of length.

Etymology. Named for the late P.H.J. Castle, who located the specimen described here and recognized its novelty, but was unable to complete the description himself; in recognition of his many contributions to our knowledge of eels and eel larvae. In combination with the Greek ichthys, fish; masculine.