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Validity of Scolecenchelys aoki, with a redescription of Scolecenchelys gymnota (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae)

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Abstract

The myrophine ophichthid fishes (worm eels) Muraenichthys aoki Jordan and Snyder 1901 and Muraenichthys gymnotus Bleeker 1857 are redescribed as valid species of Scolecenchelys based on the types and non-type specimens collected from the Indo-Pacific. Because both species are similar to each other in having acute snouts, the posterior margin of the eye before the rictus, and their dorsal-fin origins located slightly posterior to a vertical line through the anus, Scolecenchelys aoki has usually been regarded as a junior synonym of Scolecenchelys gymnota. However, S. aoki is clearly distinguishable from S. gymnota by having a median groove on the ventral side of snout (absent in S. gymnota), uniserial maxillary teeth in smaller specimens (<200 mm TL; vs. biserial), three infraorbital sensory pores at postorbital area (vs. two), and more numerous vertebrae (56–65 in predorsal vs. 51–57; 53–58 in preanal vs. 47–52). Scolecenchelys aoki is restricted to Japanese waters and regarded as a senior synonym of Muraenichthys borealis Machida and Shiogaki 1990. Scolecenchelys gymnota is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, from South Africa and the Red Sea to Samoa, north to Okinawa, Japan. Sphagebranchus huysmani Weber 1913 and Muraenichthys fowleri Schultz 1943 are synonymized under S. gymnota.

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Acknowledgments

We are deeply indebted to G. Ogihara (KAUM) for his measurements and photographs of some of the type specimens, to M.J.P. Oijen (RMNH) for his valuable comments on the holotype of Muraenichthys gymnotus, and M. Hayashi (YCM) for information about Aoyagi’s collection. We are deeply indebted to T. Peristiwady (Indonesian Institute of Sciences) for his cooperation and support during field collections in Indonesian waters. We express our sincere gratitude to the following persons and institutions for assistance and specimen loans: M. McGrouther (AMS); M. Sabaj (ANSP); J. Maclaine (BMNH); H. Endo (BSKU); W.N. Eschmeyer and D. Catania (CAS); T. Nakabo and Y. Kai (FAKU); M. Yabe, H. Imamura, and T. Kawai (HUMZ); H. Senou (KPM); G. Duhamel, P. Pruvost, and R. Causse (MNHN); Y. Iwatsuki (MUFS); K. Matsuura, and G. Shinohara (NSMT); J.T. Williams (USNM); M. Hayashi and K. Hagiwara (YCM); and R. Vonk and H. Praagman (ZMA). This study was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) awarded to S.K. by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (23570114) and by the Multilateral Cooperative Research Program of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Coastal Oceanography).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries Research Laboratory, Mie University, 4190-172 Wagu, Shima-cho, Shima, Mie, 517-0703, Japan

    Yusuke Hibino & Seishi Kimura

  2. Oita Marine Palace Aquarium UMITAMAGO, Takasaki-yama-shita-kaigan, Oita, 870-0802, Japan

    Kazuo Hoshino

  3. Osaka Museum of Natural History, 1-23 Nagai Park, Higashi-Sumiyoshi, Osaka, 546-0034, Japan

    Kiyotaka Hatooka

  4. California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA

    John E. McCosker

Authors
  1. Yusuke Hibino
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  2. Seishi Kimura
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  3. Kazuo Hoshino
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  4. Kiyotaka Hatooka
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  5. John E. McCosker
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Correspondence to Seishi Kimura.

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Hibino, Y., Kimura, S., Hoshino, K. et al. Validity of Scolecenchelys aoki, with a redescription of Scolecenchelys gymnota (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Ichthyol Res 59, 179–188 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0269-4

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