ARIOSOMA SCHEELEI - (STROMMAN, 1986)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Elopomorpha (Superorder) > Anguilliformes (Order) > Congroidei (Suborder) > Congridae (Family) > Bathymyrinae (Subfamily) > Ariosoma (Genus)
Congre tropical, Dwarf ariosoma, Tropical conger, Scheele's conger, Tropiese seepaling, Safio tropical,
Synonymes
Conger neoguinaicus (Bleeker, 1859)
Congrellus fijiensis (Ogilby, 1898)
Leptocephalus scheelei (Strömman, 1896)
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Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 146-178; Anal soft rays: 119-135; Vertebrae: 112-120; Preanal length: 2.2-2.5 in TL, predorsal length: 5.3-6.4 in TL, head long: 5.5-6.5 in TL, and body depth at anus: 15-22 in TL. Pore counts: preanal lateral line: 38-44; Preoperculo-mandibular: 12-13; Infraorbital (bone): 4 + 1 + 3; Supraorbital (bone): 6; Supratemporal (bone): 3. Origin of dorsal fin above gill opening; Anus anterior to middle of body; Small jaw teeth, villiform in 2-3 rows anteriorly, tapering to single row at rear of jaw; Several rows of intermaxillary teeth anteriorly, tapering to single row posteriorly. Max. length: 20.0 cm TL. Depth range: 9 - 55 m.
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Elopomorpha (Superorder) > Anguilliformes (Order) > Congroidei (Suborder) > Congridae (Family) > Bathymyrinae (Subfamily) > Ariosoma (Genus)
Congre tropical, Dwarf ariosoma, Tropical conger, Scheele's conger, Tropiese seepaling, Safio tropical,
Synonymes
Conger neoguinaicus (Bleeker, 1859)
Congrellus fijiensis (Ogilby, 1898)
Leptocephalus scheelei (Strömman, 1896)
-------------------------
Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 146-178; Anal soft rays: 119-135; Vertebrae: 112-120; Preanal length: 2.2-2.5 in TL, predorsal length: 5.3-6.4 in TL, head long: 5.5-6.5 in TL, and body depth at anus: 15-22 in TL. Pore counts: preanal lateral line: 38-44; Preoperculo-mandibular: 12-13; Infraorbital (bone): 4 + 1 + 3; Supraorbital (bone): 6; Supratemporal (bone): 3. Origin of dorsal fin above gill opening; Anus anterior to middle of body; Small jaw teeth, villiform in 2-3 rows anteriorly, tapering to single row at rear of jaw; Several rows of intermaxillary teeth anteriorly, tapering to single row posteriorly. Max. length: 20.0 cm TL. Depth range: 9 - 55 m.
Color
Body pale brownish olive, paler below; Median fins with black margins.
Etymology
Ariosoma: from Greek prefix, ari-, eri- = very or verily + from Greek, soma = body. Referring to long body.
scheelei: in honor of the late Capt. George von Schéele, seaman and amateur naturalist, who collected type.
Original description: Leptocephalus scheelei Strömman, 1896 - Type locality: Malay Archipelago.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), East Africa, Aldabra (Seychelles) and Madagascar, east to Marshall Islands, Philippines and Samoa, south to Western Australia and New Caledonia.
Body pale brownish olive, paler below; Median fins with black margins.
Etymology
Ariosoma: from Greek prefix, ari-, eri- = very or verily + from Greek, soma = body. Referring to long body.
scheelei: in honor of the late Capt. George von Schéele, seaman and amateur naturalist, who collected type.
Original description: Leptocephalus scheelei Strömman, 1896 - Type locality: Malay Archipelago.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), East Africa, Aldabra (Seychelles) and Madagascar, east to Marshall Islands, Philippines and Samoa, south to Western Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Uncommon species found in lagoon reefs. Solitary and cryptic, also seen in sheltered bays.
Similar species
Ariosoma anagoides (Bleeker 1853) - Reported from New Calednia - Large and distinctive eye with a vertical elongated pupil and white blotches. Max. length: 51.0 cm TL. Depth range: 10 - 250 m.
Uncommon species found in lagoon reefs. Solitary and cryptic, also seen in sheltered bays.
Similar species
Ariosoma anagoides (Bleeker 1853) - Reported from New Calednia - Large and distinctive eye with a vertical elongated pupil and white blotches. Max. length: 51.0 cm TL. Depth range: 10 - 250 m.
Ariosoma megalops (Fowler, 1938) - Reported from Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Vietnam east to Philippines and Solomon Islands, north to Taiwan, south to northern Australia.
Ariosoma sanzoi (D'Ancona, 1928) - Reported from Red Sea endemic.
Last update: 5, April 2023
Ariosoma sanzoi (D'Ancona, 1928) - Reported from Red Sea endemic.
Last update: 5, April 2023