Collared eel
Species of fish / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The collared eel[2] (Kaupichthys nuchalis) is an eel in the family Chlopsidae.[3] It was described by James Erwin Böhlke in 1967.[4] It is a tropical, marine eel known from coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean, including Texas, USA; the Bahamas, the Antilles, northern South America, the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is a benthic, solitary eel that primarily resides in tubular sponges. Males can reach a maximum total length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in).[3]
Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
Collared eel | |
---|---|
Kaupichthys nuchalis under normal illumination | |
Biofluorescence of Kaupichthys nuchalis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Chlopsidae |
Genus: | Kaupichthys |
Species: | K. nuchalis |
Binomial name | |
Kaupichthys nuchalis J.E. Böhlke, 1967 | |
Close
The collared eel exhibits biofluorescence, that is, when illuminated by blue or ultraviolet light, it re-emits it as orange, and appears differently than under white light illumination. Biofluorescence may assist in intraspecific communication and camouflage.[5]