Saccopharynx

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Elopocephalai
Supercohors: Elopocephala
Cohors/Superordo: Elopomorpha
Ordo: Saccopharyngiformes

Familia: Saccopharyngidae
Genus: Saccopharynx
Species: S. berteli
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Name

Saccopharynx Mitchill, 1824
References

Opinion 1603. Saccopharynx Mitchill, 1824 (Osteichthyes, Saccopharyngiformes): conserved.

Saccopharynx flagellum

Saccopharynx is a genus of deep-sea eels with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the derived lineage of the "saccopharyngiforms," which includes other mid-water eel species. The name is from Latin saccus meaning "sack" and Greek φάρυγξ, pharynx.

They are generally black in color, and can grow to lengths of 2 m (6.5 feet). They have been found at depths of 1,800 metres (5,900 ft), and are known to inhabit the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream.[1] Their tails are tipped by a luminous, bulb-shaped organ. The exact purpose of this organ is unknown, although it is most likely used as a lure, similar to the esca of anglerfish.
Species

The genus has ten recognized species:[2]

Saccopharynx ampullaceus Harwood, 1827 (Gulper eel)
Saccopharynx berteli Tighe & J. G. Nielsen, 2000
Saccopharynx harrisoni Beebe, 1932
Saccopharynx hjorti Bertin, 1938
Saccopharynx lavenbergi J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
Saccopharynx paucovertebratis J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
Saccopharynx ramosus J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
Saccopharynx schmidti Bertin, 1934 (Whiptail gulper)
Saccopharynx thalassa J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
Saccopharynx trilobatus J. G. Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985

References

Böhlke, Eugenia B.; Böhlke, James E.; Leiby, Mark M.; McCosker, John E.; Bertelsen, E.; Robins, Catherine H.; Robins, C. Richard; Smith, David G.; Tighe, Kenneth A. (1989). Orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes: Part 9, Volume 1. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-1-933789-19-4. JSTOR j.ctvbcd0dm.
Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2019). "Saccopharyngidae" in FishBase. December 2019 version.