Macrocephenchelys sumodi Kodeeswaran, Smith, Kumar & Sarkar, 2023

Family:  Congridae (Conger and garden eels), subfamily: Congrinae
Max. size:  44.1 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 200 - 300 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea, India (off Kochi); possibly distributed in the Andaman Sea.
Diagnosis:  This elongated species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: head large, 15.3% of TL, 53.2% of PAL (pre-anal length); trunk short, 13.6% of TL, 47.3% of PAL; gill opening, 15.3% of HL; dorsal-fin origin above, behind the middle of pectoral fin; vertebrae 14-30-151. Colouration: dorsal surface of body dark brown and continuing after anus to cover most of the body; ventral surface of head and belly with numerous melanophore patches before anus; dorsal and anal fins are milky white; ventral trunk part with a couple of small round pit-like structures in a row on each side (Ref. 129312).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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