Neenchelys diaphora Ho, McCosker & Smith, 2015

Ho, Hsuan-Ching, Hibino, Yusuke & Huang, Jian-Fu, 2018, Note on rare snake eels (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) and additional data on three Neenchelys recently described from Taiwan, Zootaxa 4454 (1), pp. 200-214 : 210

Neenchelys diaphora Ho, McCosker & Smith, 2015

Figure 5 ; Table 2

Neenchelys diaphora Ho, McCosker & Smith, 2015a:49 (type locality: Dong-gang Fishing Port, SW Taiwan, northern South China Sea; first appeared in Ho et al., 2013). Ho et al., 2015b:8. Ho et al., 2015c:170. Hibino et al., 2015:57 (in Key).

Specimens examined. Three types listed in Ho et al. (2015). Non-types. NMMB-P 18098 , 502 mm TL, Donggang , Pingtung, 31 Dec. 2012 . NMMB-P 25251 , 296 mm TL, Dong-gang , Pingtung, 2 Apr. 2015 . NMMB-P 25961 , 327 mm TL, NMMB-P 25962 , 288 mm TL, Dong-gang , Pingtung, 27 Feb. 2017 . NMMB-P 26219 , 354 mm TL, Dong-gang , Pingtung, 23 Jun. 2017 .

Diagnosis. A species of Neenchelys with the following combination of characters body cylindrical, body depth at gill opening 2.0¯3.3 times in HL, 28¯ 36 in TL; dorsal-fin origin at midpoint of trunk, 1.1¯1.5 times in HL behind gill opening; predorsal length 4.4¯ 4.7 in TL; HL 9.9¯ 11.2 in TL; tail 1.5¯ 1.6 in TL; pectoral fin well developed and relatively large, 3.7¯ 5.7 in HL; total vertebrae 177¯186; MVF 34-54-179. Cephalic lateral-line pores 13¯15; predorsal pores 34¯38; preanal pores 55¯59.

Remarks. Data for the newly collected specimens from the same region as the type locality are provided in Table 1. All data agree with (except some may be slightly outside) the range of the types series. The diagnosis is modified according to the newly collected specimens. It is notable that Ho et al. (2013, 2015) separated their species from its congeners by the relatively large gill opening (8.8̄12.6% HL), however, the newly collected specimens have small gill openings (4.5̄6.1% HL). Hence, this character may not be consistent.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Neeenchelys diaphora Ho, McCosker & Smith, 2015, NMMB-P25962, 288 mm TL. A. Lateral view. B. Close view of head.