Saccopharynx lavenbergi
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| Saccopharynx lavenbergi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Saccopharyngidae |
| Genus: | Saccopharynx |
| Species: | S. lavenbergi |
| Binomial name | |
| Saccopharynx lavenbergi Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985 | |
Saccopharynx lavenbergi is a species of gulper eel,[2] also known as the whiptail gulper. This fish is known for its large mouth and long whiplike tail.[3] This species is not commonly found in the wild, with fewer than twenty sightings over 30 years of ROV operation by MBARI. Even though it has rarely been sighted, this gulper eel was chosen to be the logo for MBARI.[4]
Saccopharynx lavenbergi occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.[1]
Description
The species is very similar to others in the genus Saccopharynx, featuring large mouths and long slender bodies. It is typically dark in color and has small eyes. This is probably because at the depths these eels dwell, there is little to no light from the sun. They also feature a bioluminescent organ at the tips of their long tails, the function of which is currently unknown.[3]