Sunday, January 12, 2020

[Ichthyology • 2019] Ophichthus vietnamensis • A New Species of the Snake Eel Genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with Additional Records from Viet Nam


Ophichthus vietnamensis 
Vo, Hibino & Ho, 2019


A new species of snake eel, Ophichthus vietnamensis sp. nov., is described on the basis of two specimens collected from off Ky Ha, central coast of Viet Nam. The new species is distinguishable from four similar congeners by having two preopercular pores, a less elongate body (both depth 20–25 times in TL) and the following combination of characters: tail length 56% TL; teeth moderately large and conical, biserial along the entire upper jaw, biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly on lower jaw, uniserial on vomer, and total vertebrae 121–130. Five Ophichthus species are also found in Vietnamese waters, including O. asakusae, O. erabo, O. lithinus, O. rutidoderma and O. urolophus. Detailed descriptions are provided for all species.

Key words: Pisces, Taxonomy, Ichthyology, Snake eel, New species.


Fig. 1. Ophichthus vietnamensis sp. nov.
  
(a). OIM-E.55769, holotype, 387 mm TL, fresh; (b, c). OIM-E.55768, paratype, 421 mm TL, fresh.
A anus and D dorsal-fin origin.

Ophichthus vietnamensis sp. nov.
 New English name: Vietnamese Snake Eel

 Diagnosis: A species of Ophichthus with posterior nostril above upper lip, covered by a flap that extends well below the edge of mouth and a less elongate body than other members of the genus (both depth 20–25 times in TL). It can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: tail length 56% TL; posterior end of tail thick, broadly pointed; dorsal origin above tip of appressed pectoral fin; pectoral fin broad and rounded; upper lips with a knob-like barbel at anterior margin of posterior nostril; cephalic sensory pores: SO 1 + 4, POM 8 – 9 + 2; teeth moderately large and conical, biserial along entire upper jaw, biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly on lower jaw, uniserial on vomer; coloration yellowish-tan, slightly contrasting with white throat and belly; dorsal fin grayish with pale base, pectoral fin light brownish and anal fin uniformly pale; total vertebrae 121–130, mean vertebral formula 12-52- 125.

Etymology: The specific name refers to the type locality (Vietnam) of the new species.



CONCLUSIONS:
Knowledge of the snake eel genus Ophichthus from Vietnamese waters has been expanded and reviewed. A new species is described, and five species are confirmed from specimens. Data are provided based on type series together with specimens newly collected from a broader range. Additional descriptive characters are employed for recognizing its congeners and to establish the new species. This study provides an additional understanding of snake eel species in Vietnamese waters. Additional collections are needed to help further understand the taxonomy of this group.


Quang Van Vo, Yusuke Hibino and Hsuan-Ching Ho. 2019. A New Species of the Snake Eel Genus Ophichthus, with Additional Records from Viet Nam (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae).  Zoological Studies. 58:43. DOI: 10.6620/ZS.2019.58-.43.