Yirrkala calyptra McCosker 2011
Illustration of the holotype (female) of Yirrkala calyptra, AMS I.45310-001, 395 mm TL. Source: John E. McCosker / California Academy of Sciences. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Summary:
A very long yellowish snake eel, with a slightly darker back, and a distinctive black band from the lower rear corner of the eye to the rear of the jaws. The dorsal-fin originates just behind the gill openings.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2024, Yirrkala calyptra in Fishes of Australia, accessed 16 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/4924
Yirrkala calyptra McCosker 2011
More Info
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Distribution |
Known only from the type locality off Fraser Island, Queensland - depth "about 10 fathoms". |
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Features |
An elongate species of Yirrkala with the unique combination of characters: head 6.3– 6.6% of total length (TL); tail 46–49% of TL; dorsal-fin origin nearly above gill openings; eye behind middle of upper jaw; 4 supraorbital pores; teeth conical, minute, uniserial on jaws and posteriorly on vomer; total vertebrae 144–147; and mean vertebral formula 7–75–146. |
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Colour |
In preservative: body yellowish; snout, chin, anterior nostrils, inside of mouth and peritoneum pale; overlain with a fine dusting of brown punctuations on cheeks, forehead, above the gill basket, and above the lateral line. A thin, slightly darker mid-dorsal band flanks the transparent dorsal fin. Anal fin transparent. A black mark extends from the lower hind edge of the eye to the rictus. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Greek calyptra (= veil), in reference to the distinct facial coloration of this species. |
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Species Citation |
Yirrkala calyptra McCosker 2011, Smithiana 13: 48, figs.4-6. Type locality: Fraser Island, Platypus Bay, 24°21'S, 152°30'E, Queensland, depth "probably about 10 fathoms". |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2024 |
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Resources |
Yirrkala calyptra McCosker 2011
References
McCosker, J.E. 2011. Two new Indo-Pacific species of the sand-eel genus Yirrkala (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Smithiana, Publications in Aquatic Biodiversity, Bulletin 13: 45-50. See ref at BHL
McCosker, J., Smith, D.G. & Tighe, K. 2022. Yirrkala calyptra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T44600604A44600606. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T44600604A44600606.en. Accessed on 31 October 2024.
