Common Name
Sooty Eel
Year Described
Jordan, 1884
Identification
Vertebrae: 177-190 (94-101 pre-anal)
Supraorbital pores: 1+3
Body extremely elongate and cylindrical in cross-section. Trunk length a little longer than tail (49-57%). Snout pointed and overhangs jaw. Underside of snout flattened with a toothed (3 teeth) median groove reaching anterior nostril. Anterior nostril tubular on underside of snout. Posterior nostril opens inside mouth. Eye small over rear third of jaw. Jaw downturned and small. Teeth small and uniserial in both jaws. Vomerine teeth in two rows. Intermaxillary teeth present. Head pores well developed. Gill pouches and cheeks grooved. Gill openings low on body and strongly converging anteriorly. Dorsal and anal fins present but low. Dorsal fin begins on top of head. Pectoral fin small (base 44-47% length of gill opening), rounded, and low on body. Caudal fin absent. Tail tip hard and pointed. Lateral line complete.
Color
Body strongly bicolored dark brown and cream, with a sharp demarcation along lateral line. Pores not lighter. Gill opening dark. Dark brown on back of head and blotching around eyes. Rest of head pale. Dorsal fin white with a thin dark edge rearward.
Size
Maximum size to 79cm TL.
Habitat
Found on sandy bottoms in shallow water (0-24m).
Range
North Carolina to Honduras on continental coastlines.
References
Leiby, M. M., & R. W. Yerger. 1980. The genus Bascanichthys (Pisces: Ophichthidae) in the Gulf of Mexico. Copeia, 402-408.
Moreno, F., A. Acero P, & M. Grijalba-Bendeck. 2016. A new species of sand eel genus Bascanichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Caribbean. BoletÃn de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras-INVEMAR, 45(1), 7-14.
Other Notes
The only sympatric related species is Bascanichthys scuticaris, which is easily distinguished by light lateral pores, lower vertebral counts and pectoral fin size.