Eared Conger, Castleichthys auritus Smith 2004

An Eared Conger, Castleichthys auritus, from off north Western Australia. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
An endemic conrid eel with a slender and flexible tail, a free flange on the upper lip, no plicae or other ornamentation on the skin of head, a large eye, uniserial maxillary and mandibular teeth, and conspicuous black pectoral fins.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Castleichthys auritus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 01 Jul 2022, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1737
Eared Conger, Castleichthys auritus Smith 2004
More Info
Features |
Vertebrae: 128. Body moderately elongate, preanal length less than 40% TL; eye relatively large; posterior nostril at level of mid-eye; jaws equal, rictus below middle of eye; teeth small, not caniniform nor molariform, maxillary teeth uniserial, mandibular teeth uniserial for most of length; flange present on upper lip. Tip of tail slender and flexible, but not greatly attenuated or filiform. No papillae or plicae on skin of head. Pectoral fin well developed; origin of dorsal fin slightly behind tip of adpressed pectoral fin; dorsal and anal-fin rays segmented. |
Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin auritus meaning eared, in reference to the large, conspicuous pectoral fins, that resemble the ears of a rabbit or a mule. |
Species Citation |
Castleichthys auritus Smith 2004, Records of the Australian Museum 56: 144, figs 1-4. Type locality: northeast of Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, 396 m, 16°53'S, 120°21'E. |
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2018 |
Resources |
Eared Conger, Castleichthys auritus Smith 2004
References
Smith, D.G. 2004. A new genus and species of congrid eel (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Congridae) from Western Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 56: 143-146 DOI: 10.3853/j.0067-1975.56.2004.1416 open access