Record of the rare Caribbean mud eel, Pythonichthys sanguineus (Heterenchelyidae, Anguilliformes), in the region of the Amazon Reef

Abstract

As they spend most of their time buried in the substrate and are not a fishery resource, heterenchelyids are seldom seen. These eels are characterized by their greatly reduced eyes, which are covered by semi-transparent skin, the absence of a pectoral fin or lateral line, and no pores on the head or body. Pythonichthys sanguineus is a particularly poorly-known species, with only eight scientific records from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname. The present study is based on six adult specimens of P. sanguineus captured by vessels of the shrimp trawling fleet along the northern Brazilian coast, in the vicinity of the Amazon Reef. We provide meristic, morphometric and DNA barcoding data. These findings provide insights into the distribution of the species off the northern Brazilian coast and contribute to the discussion about the southern limit of the Greater Caribbean fauna.

Teleostei fishes of the North Coast of Brazil and adjacent areas

“…The fauna of the coastal and reef environments of the region is also poorly documented (Eskinazi & Lima, 1968, Collette & Rutzler 1977, Rocha & Rosa, 2001, Espírito-Santo & Isaac 2005, Moura et al, 2016, Marceniuk et al, 2017. However, several advances have been achieved in recent years, mainly through inventories conducted by the Research and Conservation National Center of Northern Marine Biodiversity, ICMBio/CEPNOR (Marceniuk et al, 2019), with important advances being made in the accumulation of specimens that confirm the presence of endemic species in the region (Caires et al, 2019), as well as records (Rotundo et al, 2019).…”