Untitled - Alaska Resources Library

Uropterygius macrocephalus (Bleeker, 1865). Largehead Moray, Longhead Moray, or Needle-tooth Moray.
To 47 cm (18.5 in) TL (McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995). Pacific and Indian oceans;
southern Baja California (McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995) to Peru (Robertson and Allen
2002), including Gulf of California (McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995), Islas Galápagos
(Grove and Lavenberg 1997), and other offshore islands (Robertson and Allen 2002). At 1 m (3 ft;
Robertson and Allen 2002) to at least 14 m (46 ft; Myers 1999).
*Uropterygius polystictus Myers & Wade, 1941. Many-spotted Moray, Peppered Moray, or Peppered Snake
Moray. To 72 cm (28.3 in) TL (Robertson and Allen 2002). Gulf of California (McCosker and Rosenblatt
in Fischer et al. 1995) to southern tip of Baja California (McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995)
and to Colombia (Grove and Lavenberg 1997), including Islas Galápagos (Grove and Lavenberg 1997).
Shallow water to 35 m (115 ft; McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995).
*Uropterygius versutus Bussing, 1991. Blackeye Snake Moray, Crafty Moray, or Two-holes Moray. To 56 cm
(22 in) TL (McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995). Southern tip of Baja California (McCosker
and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995) to Colombia (Grove and Lavenberg 1997), including Islas Galápagos
(Grove and Lavenberg 1997) and other offshore islands (Robertson and Allen 2002). Tidepools to 40 m
(131 ft; Allen and Robertson 1994).
Family Synaphobranchidae — Cutthroat Eels
Histiobranchus bathybius (Günther, 1877). Deepwater Cutthroat Eel. To 137 cm (54 in) TL (Saldanha and
Bauchot in Whitehead et al. 1986). Circumglobal; Japan; unknown in eastern North Pacific except for one
record from southeastern Bering Sea, Alaska (Mecklenburg et al. 2002) and one off Cabo San Lucas, southern
Baja California (Sulak and Shcherbachev 1997). At depths of 644–4,855 m (2,113–15,928 ft) (min.: Gon in
Gon and Heemstra 1990; max.: Saldanha and Bauchot in Whitehead et al. 1986). We classify this species in
Histiobranchus following Sulak and Shcherbachev (1997). Originally named Synaphobranchus bathybius.
Synaphobranchus affinis Günther, 1877. Slope Cutthroat Eel. To 160 cm (63 in) TL (Sulak and Shcherbachev
1997). Circumglobal; North and South Pacific, including vicinity of Hawaii; unknown in eastern North
Pacific except for one Bering Sea, Alaska record (Mecklenburg et al. 2002). At depths of 290–2,334 m
(951–7,874 ft; Sulak and Shcherbachev 1997).
Family Ophichthidae — Snake Eels or Worm Eels
Bascanichthys bascanoides Osburn & Nichols, 1916. Sooty Sand Eel. To 77 cm (30.3 in) TL (Robertson and
Allen 2002). Bahia Almejas, southern Baja California (SIO 60-374) and central Gulf of California to
Panama and Isla Cocos, Costa Rica (Robertson and Allen 2002). Surface (SIO 60-374) to 20 m (66 ft).
All in Robertson and Allen (2002).
*Callechelys cliffi Böhlke & Briggs, 1954. Sandy Ridgefin Eel. To 46 cm (18.1 in) TL (Robertson and Allen
2002). Gulf of California to Panama (Allen and Robertson 1994), including southern tip of Baja
California (McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995). Surface to 30 m (0–98 ft; McCosker and
Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995).
*Callechelys eristigma McCosker & Rosenblatt, 1972. Spotted Ridgefin Eel. To 113 cm (44.5 in) TL (McCosker
and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995). Gulf of California to Costa Rica (Robertson and Allen 2002),
including southern tip of Baja California (McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995). At depths of
3–25 m (10–82 ft) (min.: SIO 61-279; max.: McCosker and Rosenblatt in Fischer et al. 1995).
Ethadophis merenda Rosenblatt & McCosker, 1970. Snack Eel. To 53 cm (20.9 in) TL. Bahia Thurloe (27°38'N,
114°50'W), southern Baja California. The depth range of this species is unknown. However, because the
type specimen was taken from the stomach of a white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) it is likely to inhabit
relatively shallow waters. All in Rosenblatt and McCosker (1970).
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