Atlantic Snipe Eel

The Snipe Eels (family Nemichthyidae) are delicate, elongate, ribbonlike deep-sea eels with compressed bodies and extremely long tapering tails. Their long, slender beaklike jaws, with inward pointing teeth, are curved, bending away from each other and not closing completely (the beak disappears in mature males, which at one time were believed to represent a distinct genus!). They lack scales and the dorsal fin extends far forward, almost to the head. Their anal fins are higher than their dorsal fins. The snout is shorter in males than in females. The anus is located far forward, at the throat, below or just behind the pectoral fin. These slender eels may exceed 120 cm in length. According to Eschmeyer and Herald (1983), snipe eels apparently orient themselves vertically in the water with the mouth pointing upward and are thought to feed on pelagic crustaceans, capturing them by entangling the crustaceans’ antennae in their jaws. (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983; Robins and Ray 1986; Charter 1996) All nine described snipe eel species inhabit relatively deep midwaters. In the Atlantic off North America, just one snipe eel, Nemichthys scolopaceus (Slender Snipe Eel), enters shelf waters. Nemichthys species have filamentous tails and a lateral line consisting of three rows of pores. They may have as many as 750 vertebrae. Nemichthys scolopaceus is brownish or gray with darker brown fine speckling. For technical descriptions, see Charter (1996) and the online Fishes of the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In the western Atlantic, this species is found from Nova Scotia (Canada) and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil and in the eastern Pacific it is found from British Columbia (Canada) to Peru, including the Gulf of California, but the species is found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. The Slender Snipe Eel is usually found between 200-500 m depth, but sometimes much deeper, and it occasionally occurs in shallower waters in the northern part of its range. (Castle 1986; Robins and Ray 1986; Charter 1996) The Slender Snipe Eel is restricted to the ocean throughout its life cycle, unlike some other eels. At maturity, both sexes lose their teeth, although only males lose them all. These eels mature in deep water, but the immature stages (leptocephali) are found in shallow water near the shore. These eels may be semelparous, i.e., dying after spawning once. (Finch 1990 and references therein) Charter (1996) describes the leptocephali of this and other snipe eels.

Occur in midwater, usually below 400 m and occasionally in shallow water in the northern part of its range. Feed on crustaceans while swimming with its mouth open (Ref. 5377).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0

Jaws long (Ref. 13608). Posterior end of body narrow, ending as a long filament (Ref. 13608). Dorsal fin with about 350 rays; caudal fin not recognizable; anal fin with about 320 (Ref. 6885). Dark brown or grey in color, often darker below (Ref. 3248); anal fin and tips of pectoral fins almost black (Ref. 6885).

Oviparous (Ref. 3247).

Occur in midwater, usually below 400 m and occasionally in shallow water in the northern part of its range. Feed on crustaceans while swimming with its mouth open (Ref. 5377). Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302) and bathypelagic (Ref. 58426). Oviparous, with planktonic leptocephali (Ref. 32364). Degenerative changes in males and females suggest semelparity (Ref. 32364). Minimum depth from Ref. 58302.

fisheries: of no interest

廣泛分布世界於溫帶及熱帶海域，臺灣主要發現在東北部、西南部海域。

本種為底拖魚獲中常見魚種，無特別經濟利益，一般充作下雜魚以及學術研究用。

體極度細長，身體側扁，末端持續延長如絲。眼大，佔頭高的1/2以上。肛門位於胸鰭偏基部的下方。頭狹窄。上下兩頜延長，上、下彎曲呈"V"形，頂端為圓點狀。口裂至眼睛後緣。第200根背鰭所對應到的脊椎骨數173~203。上、下頜均有細小形的圓錐狀齒密集分布，自嘴裂至吻端。前鼻孔與後鼻孔位於眼睛前方，兩孔位置相近，遠離吻端。魚體無鱗。側線完整，側線孔有3列分布在魚體中央，排列形式如同骰子"五"，為中間一點，上、下各兩點的分布形式。背鰭、臀鰭與尾鰭相連，臀鰭較背鰭長，約等於魚體體高，臀鰭基部有小尖刺突出體表。尾部極長而容易破損，不易採集到完整個體。背鰭起點對應於鰓裂上方。胸鰭發達。鰓裂長，位於胸鰭下方，鰓裂約佔魚體體高的1/2以上。新鮮魚體頭部為黑色，枕骨後方背側呈透明，腹側有黑色素沉澱而較深，胸鰭透明，末端為黑緣。福馬林中的標本頭部為黑色，魚體背側呈白色，腹側為黑色，胸鰭呈白色，末端為黑色。雄魚體型較雌魚小，性成熟後延長的吻端會萎縮，至前鼻孔的位置。(陳鴻鳴 ＆ 林上智)

深海底層大洋性魚類。用其特別延長的上、下頜捕食小型蝦類。

The slender snipe eel (Nemichthys scolopaceus), also known as the deep sea duck, is a fish that can weigh only a few ounces, yet reach 5 feet or 1.5 m in length. Features include a bird-like beak with curving tips, covered with tiny hooked teeth, which they use to sweep through the water to catch shrimp and other crustaceans. It has a lifespan of ten years.

It has more vertebrae in its backbone than any other animal, around 750. However, its anus has moved forward during its evolution and is now located on its throat. Its larvae are shaped like leaves, which actually get smaller before transforming into adults.

Many specimens found in museums were spat up from larger fish that were caught in trawls. This organism is found at 2,000 meters in the North Atlantic. They have more than 700 vertebrae which is many more than most other animals. Their reproduction is done by spawning, which is when females lay the eggs and the males lay their sperm into the water at the same time. The slender snipe eel only spawns once in their lifetime as they die after spawning. It is difficult for scientists to research these organisms because of the extreme environment they inhabit. In addition, the conservation status of the slender snipe eel is not well known.

Feed on crustaceans while swimming with its mouth open

Banquereau Bank to the Caribbean Sea

Occasionally found in Canadian Atlantic waters. Found at depths of 91- 2000 m, usually below 400 m.

nektonic

Known from seamounts and knolls