Shortfinned worm eel

The shortfinned worm eel (Scolecenchelys australis, also known commonly as the shortfin worm eel, worm eel, southern worm eel, Down's worm eel, or Tasmanian worm eel[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by William John Macleay in 1881, originally under the genus Muraenichthys.[4] It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from Australia, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It forms large colonies which inhabit burrows in soft sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 40 centimetres (16 in).[3]

Shortfinned worm eel
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Scolecenchelys
Species:
S. australis
Binomial name
Scolecenchelys australis
(Macleay, 1881)
Synonyms[1]
  • Muraenichthys australis Macleay, 1881
  • Muraenichthys tasmaniensis McCulloch, 1911
  • Scolecenchelys tasmaniensis (McCulloch, 1911)
  • Scolecenchelys tasmaniensis smithi Whitley, 1944

The shortfinned worm eel's diet consists primarily of benthic crustaceans and polychaetes.[5]

References
  1. Synonyms of Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names of Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Macleay, W., 1881 (12 Sept.) [ref. 6222] A descriptive catalogue of Australian fishes. Part IV. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales v. 6 (pt 2): 202-387.
  5. Food and Feeding Habits Summary for Scolecenchelys australis at www.fishbase.org.


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