Halfband Snake Eel, Malvoliophis pinguis (Günther, 1872)
Scientific name: Malvoliophis pinguis
Click to enlarge image
A Halfband Snake Eel at a depth of 16 m, Bare Island, Botany Bay, New South Wales, August 2007.
Image: Michael McFadyen
© Michael McFadyen
© Michael McFadyen
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Malvoliophis
- Species
- pinguis
- Family
- Ophichthidae
- Order
- Anguilliformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The grows to about 53 cm in length.
Introduction
The Halfband Snake Eel is a brown-blotched fish that is named after Malvolio from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
Identification
The Halfband Snake Eel is whitish with brown blotches on the head and brown bands on the body.
Habitat
It is a burrowing species that is found on soft substrates in continental shelf and inshore waters.
A Halfband Snake Eel, Malvoliophis pinguis, photographed at a depth of 4m during a night dive at Camp Cove, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales on 20 August 2016.
Image: Andrew Trevor-Jones
© Andrew Trevor-Jones
© Andrew Trevor-Jones
Distribution
The species is endemic to Australia, occurring from the central coast of Queensland to southern New South Wales. It is also recorded from Lord Howe Island.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Grant, E.M. 1982. Guide to Fishes. Department of Harbours & Marine. Pp. 896.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, Pp. 1-2178.
- Kuiter, R.H & H. Debelius. 2006. World Atlas of Marine Fishes. IKAN. Pp. 720.
