Sailfin eel
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sailfin eel (Paraletharchus pacificus, also known commonly as the Pacific sailfin eel in Mexico[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Raymond Carroll Osburn and John Treadwell Nichols in 1916, originally under the genus Letharchus.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean (from which its species epithet is derived), including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.[5] It is known to dwell at a depth of 35 metres (115 ft), and inhabits rock and sand sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 81 centimetres (32 in).[3]
| Sailfin eel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Paraletharchus |
| Species: | P. pacificus |
| Binomial name | |
| Paraletharchus pacificus (Osburn & Nichols, 1916) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Due to its wide distribution, lack of known threats, and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Sailfin eel as Least Concern.[5]
