Nettastoma solitarium Castle & Smith, 1981
Solitary duckbill eel
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Nettastomatidae (Duckbill eels)
Max. size:  46.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 415 - 610 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Kyushu-Palau Ridge, the Philippines, Australia, and the western Indian Ocean (Ref. 559). Reported from the Hawaiian Islands (Ref. 58302).
Diagnosis:  Six supraorbital pores, SO5 present. Lateral line pores 42-45. Median vomerine teeth somewhat enlarged. Posterior nostril above anterodorsal corner of eye.
Biology:  Recorded on video tape outside the coelacanth caves at a depth of 278-340 m (Ref. 58472).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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