Guayana pike-conger

Guayana pike-conger
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenesocidae
Genus: Cynoponticus
Species: C. savanna
Binomial name
Cynoponticus savanna
(Bancroft, 1831)
Synonyms[1]
  • Conger savanna Bancroft, 1831
  • Muraenesox savanna (Bancroft, 1831)

The Guayana pike-conger (Cynoponticus savanna, also known as the Pike-headed eel or the Sapphire eel[2]) is an eel in the family Muraenesocidae (pike congers).[3] It was described by Edward Nathaniel Bancroft in 1831, originally under the genus Conger.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western Atlantic Ocean, including Central America, the Caribbean and Brazil. It dwells at a maximum depth of 100 metres (330 ft), and inhabits muddy substrates in bays and estuaries. Males can reach a maximum total length of 150 centimetres (59 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 50 centimetres (20 in).[3]

The Guayana pike-conger's diet consists of zoobenthos.[5] It is of minor commercial use to fisheries, and is marketed fresh.[3]

References

  1. Synonyms of Cynoponticus savanna at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names of Cynoponticus savanna at www.fishbase.org.
  3. 1 2 3 Cynoponticus savanna at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Bancroft, E. N., 1831 (31 Oct.) [ref. 15966] Specimens were exhibited of several fishes, lately received from Dr. Bancroft of Kingston, Jamaica, Corr. Memb. Z. S. Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London 1830-31 (pt 1): 134-135.
  5. Food items reported for Cynoponticus savanna at www.fishbase.org.
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