Lesser thrush eel
| Lesser thrush eel | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Moringuidae |
| Genus: | Moringua |
| Species: | M. microchir |
| Binomial name | |
| Moringua microchir Bleeker, 1853 | |
The lesser thrush eel, also known as the common worm eel and the spaghetti eel,[1] (Moringua microchir) is an eel in the family Moringuidae (spaghetti/worm eels).[2] It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1853.[3] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from East Africa, Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands, and the southern Great Barrier Reef. It typically dwells at a depth range of 3-20 m, with juveniles inhabiting estuaries and rivers, adult females leading a benthic lifestyle in shallow oceanic waters, and adult males living in the pelagic zone. Adults breed offshore. Males can reach a maximum total length of 47 cm.[2]
The lesser thrush eel's diet consists primarily of crustaceans and bony fish.[4]
References
- ↑ Common names for Moringua microchir at www.fishbase.org.
- 1 2 Moringua microchir at www.fishbase.org.
- ↑ Bleeker, P., 1853 [ref. 16900] Derde bijdrage tot de kennis der ichthyologische fauna van Amboina. Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indië v. 4: 91-130.
- ↑ Food items reported for Moringua microchir at www.fishbase.org.
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