Anguila fideo macarrón

description

Description. See genus account for general appearance. Morphometric characters in % TL: preanal 47.4 – 52.9, predorsal 38.1 – 46.6, head 10.6 – 14.8, depth at anus 3.4 – 5.8. In % HL: snout 17.4 – 22.2, eye 3.7 – 7.9, snout-rictus 24.8 – 32.2, gill opening 6.7 – 19.5, interbranchial 8.8 – 16.9, pectoral fin 5.1 – 30.2. Meristic characters: lateral-line pores 32 – 50, predorsal vertebrae 34 – 38, preanal vertebrae 41 – 44, total vertebrae 93 – 102. Mandibular pores as in N. mucronatus. Color in preservative gray to brown. The specimens range in size from 39 to 230 mm TL.

A review of the genus Neoconger (Anguilliformes: Moringuidae), with the description of a new species

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Neoconger vermiformis differs from N. mucronatus in the number of predorsal vertebrae (34 – 38 vs 38 – 44). It differs from N. torrei in the number of predorsal vertebrae (34 – 38 vs 42 – 45), preanal vertebrae (41 – 44 vs 48 – 49), and total vertebrae (93 – 100 vs 104 – 107). It differs from N. anaelisae in the number of predorsal vertebrae (34 – 38 vs 32 – 34). It differs from N. hygomi in the number of predorsal vertebrae (34 – 38 vs 48), preanal vertebrae (41 – 44 vs 55), and total vertebrae (93 – 102 vs 107). Larvae with a sharp intestinal loop; posterior lateral melanophore and anterior ventral melanophore present (see below).

A review of the genus Neoconger (Anguilliformes: Moringuidae), with the description of a new species

discussion

Remarks. The number of known adult specimens of this species greatly exceeds that of all the other species. One reason for this disparity may be the greater extent of favorable habitat in the Gulf of Panama and the area around the entrance to the canal. Another reason may be the amount of collecting work done in that area. Samuel F. Hildebrand made numerous collections there in 1937, and the RV Pillsbury cruise to the Gulf of Panama in 1967 sampled the offshore area extensively. Suitable habitat in other areas may be more limited and sampled more sporadically. The number of total vertebrae in specimens from Mexico and Panama overlap completely, but there is some discrepancy (Table 6). The specimens from Mexico have 95 – 98 (n = 9, mean 95.8), whereas those from Panama have 93 – 102 (n = 26, mean 98.7). No genetic information is available for this species, and without such evidence the significance of these differences cannot be determined. Smith & Castle (1972: 238) reported 106 specimens of larval Neoconger vermiformis collected in the Gulf of Panama. The number of total myomeres (95 – 102) matches the number of vertebrae in adults (93 – 102). The number of preanal myomeres is giv

A review of the genus Neoconger (Anguilliformes: Moringuidae), with the description of a new species

distribution

Distribution. Neoconger vermiformis occurs along the western coast of North and Central America from the northern Gulf of California to Panama and northern Colombia. The type series of nine specimens was collected in the northern Gulf of California, and one specimen was collected off the state of Guerrero in southern Mexico. All the others (85 specimens) were collected in the Gulf of Panama and adjacent northern Colombia, including the Pacific end of the Panama Canal.

A review of the genus Neoconger (Anguilliformes: Moringuidae), with the description of a new species