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Uropterygius cyamommatus Huang, Liao & Tan, 2023 Bean-eyed snake moray |
| Family: | Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Uropterygiinae | |||
| Max. size: | 38 cm TL (male/unsexed); 40.1 cm TL (female) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-West Pacific: Christmas I. and the Philippines. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Vertebrae: 141-149. This small-sized slender moray eel is characterized by the following characters: tail long, 56.3-61.1% of TL; eyes very small, 3.0-4.6% of HL, sometimes is reduced and subcutaneous; branchial pore, 1; maxillary teeth biserial; dentary teeth 2-3 rows anteriorly, biserial posteriorly; pre-anus vertebrae 56-62, pre-dorsal fin vertebrae 130-138, pre-anal fin vertebrae 131-139, total vertebrae 141-149. Colouration: body uniform brown; anterior nostril, gill opening, oral cavity, and head pores are whitish (Ref. 130726). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits anchialine caves. Hydrological measurements for water layers around traps in the caves revealed very low salinities (0.6-0.8 psu), which can be considered freshwaters. Although it is not known the exact water layer this species inhabits, it is highly possible that it lives in the lower layer with saline water especially it was captured in the trap from the Whip Cave with another marine eel (unidentified Chlopsidae species) (Ref. 130726). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
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