Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Myrophinae
Etymology: Sympenchelys: The scientific name is derived from its compressed body and neural and haemal spines, the Greek sympiez (compress) and enchelys (an eel), feminine; taiwanensis: Named for its type locality, Taiwan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 100 - 300 m (Ref. 106139). Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: Taiwan
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 27.9 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 152 - 164. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: tail 65-66% TL; dorsal-fin origin anterior to mid trunk; lateral-line pores before anus 44-47; predorsal vertebrae 26-28, preanal vertebrae 43-51, total vertebrae 152-164; mean vertebral formula (MVF) 27-48-160 (Ref. 106139).
Cross section: oval.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hibino, Y., H-C. Ho and S. Kimura, 2015. A new genus and species of worm eels, Sympenchelys taiwanensis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae: Myrophinae), from the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Zootaxa 4060(1):41-48. (Ref. 106139)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: bycatch
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