Family: MORINGUIDAE, Spaghetti Eel, Spaghetti Eels
extremely elongate
eye small
eye small
D & A at rear, join C
tiny pectoral
LL complete
only head pores - lower jaw
only head pores - lower jaw
FAMILY MORINGUIDAE
SPAGHETTI EELS
Spaghetti eels, which reach only 50 cm, have extremely elongate bodies; small eyes; mouth moderate, ends a little past eye; gill openings low on the sides; small pectoral fins; dorsal and anal fins present as low folds at the rear of the tail and confluent with the tail fin; lateral line complete on body; head pores only on lower jaw.
These eels burrow headfirst in soft sediments.
The family, with 2 genera and 15 species, occurs in tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific and west Atlantic. One endemic species and one west Atlantic species occur in the Greater Caribbean.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON & RODOLFO CLARO, AFTER SMITH (2002)
