Apterichtus monodi ( Roux 1966 )

Hibino, Yusuke, 2015, A review of the finless snake eels of the genus Apterichtus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of five new species, Zootaxa 3941 (1), pp. 49-78 : 69-70

Apterichtus monodi ( Roux 1966)

Table 1

Caecula (Sphagebranchus) monodi Roux 1966:593 , Figs. 1–2 (type locality off Cape Verde Islands, Senegal, holotype MNHN 1971-0032).

Sphagebranchus monodi: Blache et al. 1970:216 .

Verma monodi: Blache & Bauchot 1972:697 .

Apterichtus monodi: McCosker 1977:66 .

Diagnosis. An elongate species with: tail 1.6–1.7, head 16–20, and body depth 63–71 in total length; 3 preopercular pores and 7 pores in supratemporal canal; teeth conical, uniserial on jaws and vomer; 0–2 vomerine teeth; body coloration in alcohol pale ochre ventrally, slightly darker dorsally; and total vertebrae 147–151 (mean 148.6)(n= 5).

Size. The largest specimen reported is 50 cm, sex unknown.

Distribution. Known from between 80–150 m depth from Cape Verde Islands off Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Biafra. Leiby et al. (1990:178) report that it is distributed from Senegal to Nigeria, however they do not provide a listing of their specimens.

Remarks. This entry is based on the treatment of Blache and Bauchot (1972:692–702). Leiby (1981:70) stated that the larvae identified as Verma monodi by Blache (1977) are either a species of sphagebranchin which has fins as an adult or are an ophichthin.

Material examined. 5 specimens, 263–495 mm TL, including MNHN 1971-0032, the holotype, 357 mm, off Cape Verde Islands, Sénégal, 150 m. Paratypes: MNHN 1971-0033, 2: 321–338 mm, collected with the holotype. MNHN 1964-537, 263 mm, south of Dakar, Sénégal, 80 m. MNHN 1956-90, 495 mm, Bay of Biafra.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Underwater photograph of living Apterichtus hatookai, taken by J. Shibata at 7 m at Shikohu Island, Japan. Courtesy of Ichthyological Society of Japan

FIGURE 2. Underwater photograph of living Apterichtus flavicaudus, taken by J. Randall at 15 m, Makua, O’ahu, Hawai’i.