Browse > Article

Taxonomic Review of the Snake-eels Family Ophichthidae(Anguilliformes) from Korea  

Ji, Hwan-Sung (Department of Marine Biology, Pukyong National University)
Kim, Jin-Koo (Department of Marine Biology, Pukyong National University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Ichthyology / v.23, no.1, 2011 , pp. 46-60 More about this Journal
Abstract
A taxonomic review of 6 genera and 10 species in the family Ophichthidae was carried out based on specimens from the adjacent waters of Korea. The number of vertebrae distinguished the species of each genus: Ophisurus macrorhynchos (201~209), Ophichthus rotundus (178~183), Pisodonophis zophistius (179~182), P. cancrivorus (153~164), Echelus uropterus (152~158), Muraenichthys gymnopterus (155~156), Ophichthus evermanni (150~154), Brachysomophis porphyreus (137~148), Ophichthus urolophus (135~138), Ophichthus asakusae (124~134). Snout length in head length distinguished the 6 genera: Ophisurus (27.2~31.2), Echelus (18.0~27.7), Ophichthus (12.3~21.5), Pisodonophis (16.5~20.8), Muraenichthys (11.4~11.9), Brachysomophis (9.1~9.4). A key to the 6 genera and 10 species of the family Ophichthidae from the adjacent waters of Korea is provided.
Keywords
Ophichthidae; Taxonomic review; Echelus uropterus; Ophisurus macrorhynchos; Ophichthus evermanni; Ophichthus rotundus; Ophichthus urolophus; Ophichthus asakusae; Pisodonophis zophistius; Pisodonophis cancrivorus; Brachysomophis porphyreus; Muraenichthys gymnopterus;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Kim, I.S., Y. Choi, C.L. Lee, Y.J. Lee, B.J. Kim and J.H. Kim, 2005. Illustrated book of Korean fishes. Kyohak, Seoul, 615pp. (in Korean)
2 Lacepede, B.G.E. 1800. Histoire naturelle des poissons. Histoire naturelle des poissons, 2: i-lxiv+632pp, Pls, 1-20.
3 Jordan, D.S., S. Tanaka and J.O. Snyder. 1913. A catalogue of the fishes of Japan. J. of the Coll. of Sci., Imperial University, Tokyo, 33: 1-497
4 Kaup, J.J. 1856. Uebersicht der Aale. Arch, Naturegeschichte, 22: 41-77.
5 Jordan, D.S. and J.O. Snyder. 1901. A review of the apodal fishes or eels of Japan, with descriptions of 19 new species. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 23: 837-890.   DOI
6 Jordan, D.S. and R.E. Richardson. 1909. A catalogue of the fishes of the island of Formosa, or Taiwan, based on the collections of Dr. Hans Sauter, Mem. Carn. Mus., 4: 159-204, pls, 63-74.
7 Jordan, D.S. and R.E. Richardson. 1910. Check-list of the species of fishes known from the Philippine archipelago. Bureau of Sci., Manila, pp. 3-78.
8 Huang, Z. 2001. Marine species and their distribution in China's seas. Vertebrata. Smithsonian Inst., Florida, USA. 598pp.
9 Temminck, C.J. and H. Schlegel. 1846. Pisces. In: Fauna Japonica, sive descriptio animalium quae in itinere per Japoniam suscepto annis 1823-30 collegit, notis observationibus et adumbrationibus illustravit P.F. de Siebold, 10-14, pp. 173-269.
10 Jordan, D.S. and C.W. Metz. 1913. A catalog of the fishes known from the waters of Korea. Mem. Carn. Mus., 6: 1-65, pls, 1-10.
11 Shen, S.C. 1990. Synopsis of fishes of Taiwan. SMC Publishing INC. Taipei, pp. 116-118. (in Chinese)
12 Tang, W.Q. and C.G. Zhang. 2004. A taxonomic study on snake eel family Ophichthidae in China with the review of Ophichthidae (Pisces, Anguilliformes). J. Shanghai Fish. Univ., 13: 16-22. (in Chinese)
13 Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Checklist of the fishes of Western Australia. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl., 63: 9-50.   DOI
14 Herre, A.W.C.T. 1923. Check list of Philippine fishes. Res. Rep. U. S. Fish Wild. Serv., 20: 1-977.
15 Herre, A.W.C.T. 1953. Eight additions to the Philippine fish fauna, including three new species. Philippine J. Sci., 82: 9-14.
16 Smith, D.G. and J.E. McCosker. 1999. Ophichthidae. In: Carpenter, K.E. and V.H. Niem (eds.), FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes. Part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae), FAO, Rome, pp. 1662-1669.
17 Sumida, S. and Y. Machida. 2000. Revision of the two sympatric snake-eel species of the genus Ophichthus (Ophichthidae, Anguilliformes) from Tosa Bay, Southern Japan, with comments on O. tsuchidae. Bull. Mar. Sci. Fish., Kochi Univ., 20: 51-69. (in Japanese)
18 Hamilton, F. 1822. An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges and its branches. Edinburgh and London, 405pp.
19 Hatooka, K. 2002. Ophichthidae. In: Nakabo, T. (ed.). Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species. Tokai Univ. Press, Tokyo, pp. 215-225.
20 Tabeta, O. and N. Mochioka. 1988. Family Ophichthidae. In: Okiyama M. (ed), An Atlas of the early stage fishes in Japan. Tokai Univ. Press, Tokyo, pp. 58-62. (in Japanese)
21 Gilbert, C.H. 1898. The fishes of North and Middle America, a descriptive catalogue of the species of fish-like vertebrates found in the waters of North America north of the Isthmus of Panama, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 47: 2183-3136.
22 Richardson, J. 1848. Ichthyology. In: Richardson, J. and J.E. Gray (eds.), The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. "Erebus" and "Terror" under the command of Capt Sir J.C. Ross during 1839-43. London, 2: 1-139, 62 pls.
23 Gunther, A. 1870. Catalogue of the fishes in the british museum. Catalogue of the Physostomi, containing the families Gymnotidae... in the british museum. Brit. Mus., London, 8: ixxv+1549pp.
24 Cheng, Q.T. and B.S. Zheng (eds.). 1987. Systematic synopsis of Chinese fishes. Science Press, Beijing, pp. 110-115, 775- 764. (in Chinese)
25 Randall, J.E. 1973. Tahitian fish names and a preliminary checklist of the fishes of the society of islands. B.P. Bishop Mus. Occas. Pap., 24: 167-214.
26 Randall, J.E. and K.K.P. Lim. 2000. A checklist of the fishes of the South China Sea. Raffles Bull. Zool. Suppl., 8: 569-667.
27 Chyung, M.K. 1977. The fishes of Korea. Ilchisa, Seoul, 727pp.
28 Chu, Y.T., T.L. Tchang and Q.T. Cheng. 1963. Fishes of the East of China Sea. Sci. Press, Beijing, pp. 153-154. (in Chinese)
29 Eschmeyer, W.N. 1998. Catalog of fishes. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2: 1820pp.
30 Eschmeyer, W.N. 2010. Catalog of fishes electronic version. available from: http//research.calacademy.org/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp.
31 Castle, P.H.J. and J.E. McCosker. 1999. A new genus and two new species of Myrophine worm-eels, with comments on Muraenichthys and Scolecenchelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Rec. Aust. Mus., 51: 113-122.   DOI
32 Rafinesque, C.S. 1810. Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante della Sicilia, con varie osservazioni sopra i medisimi. Part 1 involves fishes, pp. 3-69.
33 Mori, T. 1952. Check list of the fishes of Korea. Mem. Hyogo Univ. Agric., 1: 1-228.
34 Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the world. 4th ed, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 601pp.
35 Chen, J.T.E. and H.T.C. Weng. 1967. A review of the apodal fishes Taiwan. Tunghai Univ. Taichung, Taiwan, 32: 1-86.
36 Bleeker, P. 1853a. Bijdrage tot de kennis der Muraenoïden en Symbrancho den van den Indischen Archipel. Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunst. Wet., 25: 1-76.
37 McCosker, J.E. and Y. -Y. Chen. 2000. A new species of deepwater snake-eel, Ophichthus aphotistos, with comments on Neen-chelys retropinna (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from Taiwan. Ichthyol. Res., 47: 343-357.   DOI   ScienceOn
38 Mok, H.K. 1993. Ophichthidae In: Shen, S.C. (ed.), Fishes of Taiwan, Depart. Zool., Natl. Taiwan Univ., Taipei, pp. 110-114.
39 Bleeker, P. 1853b. Diagnostische beschrijvingen van nieuwe of weinig bekende vischsoorten van Batavia. Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indie., 4: 451-516.
40 Bleeker, P. 1853c. Vierde bijdrage tot de kennis der ichthyologische fauna van Celebes. Nat. Tijd. Ned., 5: 153-174.
41 McCosker, J.E. 2009. Comments on the snake-eel genus Xyrias (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new species. Zootaxa, 2289: 61-67.
42 McCosker, J.E. and J.E. Randall. 1993. Finless snake-eels of the genus Cirricaecula (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of C. macdowelli from Taiwan. Japanese J. Ichthyol., 40: 189-192.
43 McCosker, J.E. and P.H.J. Castle 1986. Ophichthidae. In Smith M.M. and P.C. Heemstra (eds.), Smiths' Sea fishes. Springer- Verlag, Berlin, pp. 176-186.
44 McCosker, J.E. and J.E. Randall. 2001. A revision of the snake-eel genus Brachysomophis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of two new species and comments on the species of Myrophis. Indo-Pacific Fishes, 33: 1-32.
45 McCosker, J.E. 1998. Snake-eels of the genus Xyrias (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Cybium, 22: 7-13.
46 McCosker, J.E. 2006. A new deepwater species of worm-eel, Scolecenchelys castlei (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from New Zealand and Australia, with comments on S. breviceps and S. macroptera. J. Royal Soc. New Zealand. 36: 17-26.   DOI
47 McCosker, J.E. 2010. Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snakeeel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species. Zootaxa, 2505: 1-139.
48 McCosker, J.E., E.B. Böhlke and J.E. Böhlke. 1989. Fishes of the western north atlantic. Part nine, Vol. 1, Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research, Yale Univ., no. 1, p. 298.
49 Asano, H. 1984. Family Ophichthidae. In: Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino (eds.), The fishes of the Japanese archipelago. Tokai Univ. Press, Tokyo, pp. 29-32.
50 Allen, G.R. and M. Adrim. 2003. Coral reef fishes of Indonesia. Zool. Stud., 42: 1-72.
51 Asano, H. 1992. Ophichthidae. In: Masuda, H. (ed.). The fishes of the Japanese archipelago. 3rd ed. Tokai Univ. Press, Tokyo, pp. 30-32, pl. 33.
52 Lutken, C.F. 1851. Nogle bemaerkinger om naeseborenes stilling hos de i gruppe med Ophisurus staaende slaegter af aalefamilien. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra den Naturhistoriske Forening i Kjobenhavn, 1851: 1-21.
53 Masuda, H. and G.R. Allen 1993. Meeresfische der Welt-Gro$\beta$-Indopazifische Region. Tetra Verlag, Herrenteich, Melle, 528pp.
54 McCosker, J.E. 1970. A review of the eel genera Leptenchelys and Muraenichthys, with the description of a new genus, Schismorhynchus, and a new species, Muraenichthys chilensis. Pacific Sci., 24: 506-516.
55 McCosker, J.E. 1977. The osteology, classification, and relationships of the eel family Ophichthidae. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. Ser. 4, 41: 1-123.
56 Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae, Ed. X. (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) Holmiae. Systema Naturae, Ed. X. v. 1: i-ii+824pp.
57 Bleeker, P. 1851. Derde bijdrage tot de kennis der ichthyologische fauna van Borneo, met beschrijving van eenige nieuwe soorten van zoetwatervisschen, Nat. Tijd. Ned., 2: 57-70.
58 Ahl, J.N. 1789. Specimen ichthyologicum de Muraena et Ophichtho, quod venia exp. fac Med. ups. Praeside Car ol. Pet. Thunberg, etc, Upsalal, pp. 1-14, 2 pls.
59 Lee, C.L. 2009. First record of a longfin snake-eel, Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) in Korea. Korean J. Ichthyol., 21: 307-310.
60 Lee, C.L. and H. Asano. 1997. A new ophichthid eel, Ophichthus rotundus (Ophichthidae, Anguilliformes) from Korea. Kor. J. Biol. Sci., 1: 549-552.
61 Kim, B.G., C.H. Jeong and K.N. Han. 2008. New record of a worm eel Muraenichthys gymnopterus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Korea. Korean J. Ichthyol., 20: 318-323.
62 Kim, B.J., J.H. Choi, D.S. Chang, H.K. Cha and J.H. Park. 2009. New record of the snake eel Ophichthus asakusae (Ophichthidae: Anguilliformes) from Korea. Fish. Aqua. Sci., 12: 236-239