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Species: Lethogoleos andersoni, Forgetful snake-eel

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elongate (depth ~3.3% TL); tail 54% TL, tip blunt
eye near snout tip, protrudes above top profile
D origin well behind pectorals
snout long, straight, overhanging, tip curved down
mouth long
teeth long, conical, 3 rows top jaw, 2 rows on bottom, vomer 1 row large teeth
D origin well behind pectorals

Lethogoleos andersoni  McCosker & Bohlke, 1982

Forgetful snake-eel

Moderately elongate (body depth 3-3.3 % TL), cylindrical at front, compressed behind; tail 54 % TL; head elongate ~ 11.5 % of TL; snout long (13-15 % of head), straight, overhanging pointed tip curved down; eye well developed, near tip of snout, protruding above top head profile; front nostril a short tube; rear nostril at edge of lip, covered with a flap; mouth elongate; lips without barbells; teeth elongate, conical, pointed, depressible, a ring of 4 large teeth between front of top jaws, these exposed when mouth is closed, 3 rows on top jaws, outer row of 50+ small, close-set fixed teeth, inner rows of  22-30 and 16-27 longer, depressible teeth; 2 rows of teeth on bottom jaws, outer row of 39-48 small teeth, inner row of 21-30 longer teeth, front teeth larger; vomer with 1 row of 9 large teeth; gill opening a crescent; dorsal and anal fins low; dorsal fin origin well behind pectoral fins; pectorals well developed, elongate, base opposite top half of gill opening; tail tip blunt, no fin.

Preserved fish pale grey, peppered with dark dots, most densely above; chin dark; head pores in dark rings; fins pale.

Reaches 31.8 cm

Lives on soft bottoms.

Depth range 141-193 m.

South Carolina to Cuba.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Offshore
  • Offshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom only
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Mud
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Soft bottom only
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Data
Egg Type
  • Pelagic larva
  • Data
  • Pelagic
Global Endemism
  • West Atlantic Endemic
  • All species.
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Island (s)
  • GC endemic
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • All species..
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
IUCN Red List
  • Not evaluated / Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Depth Range Min
  • 141
Depth Range Max
  • 193
Length Max
  • 31.8