Scolecenchelys fuscogularis Hibino, Kai & Kimura, 2013
Dark throat worm eel

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Myrophinae
Max. size:  26.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 81 - 147 m
Distribution:  Northwestern Pacific: Sea of Japan (off Kyoto Prefecture), the Pacific coast (off Mie Prefecture), and East China Sea.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 146-149. This species is distinguished by the following characters: small head (8.3-8.8% TL); slender body (depth 1.4-1.6% TL); median groove on ventral side of snout absent; teeth on jaws ad vomer uniserial; dorsal-fin origin posterior to a vertical through the anus, horizontal distance between the origin and the vertical line 83% HL; tail 52-53% TL; trunk 39% TL; vertebrae total 146-149, predorsal 70-72, preanal 63; MVF 71-63-148; lower jaw entirely dark, a patch of melanophores ventrally on branchial basket (Ref. 92890, 104540).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 27 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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