Genus: Facciolella, Western Pikeconger Eel, Witch Eel

FACCIOLELLA

WITCH EEL

Elongate, cylindrical at front, compressed at rear; tail long slender, tapering, to a pointed whip-like tip ~2/3 TL; eye moderate sized; front nostril tubular, a low tube in front of central tooth patch of top jaws; rear nostril a slit in upper lip that is covered by a skin flap, opens below and just before eye; a long narrow snout projecting, tip soft and fleshy; mouth long, extends back past eyes; jaws long and pointed, with top jaw overhanging; top jaw teeth small, conical, multiple rows, ~continuous with spade-shaped patch of larger teeth at center front of jaws; lower jaw with a band of teeth, inner teeth larger, teeth at front of lower jaw fit into gap between teeth of vomer and those at center front of top jaws; vomer with an elongate patch of teeth reaching back to near eye level, central teeth a bit larger; gill opening a crescent on lower side of body; pectoral fins absent; dorsal fin origin slightly behind gill opening; dorsal and anal fins confluent with tail fin; lateral line complete, on head and body to end of tail.

Worldwide in tropical and warm temperate areas; with 7 named species; 1 undescribed species in the Greater Caribbean.