This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Saccopharyngidae is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
| Saccopharynx | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Saccopharynx flagellum. From plate 49 of Oceanic Ichthyology by George Brown Goode and Tarleton Hoffman Bean, published 1896.
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Species | ||||||||||||
|
See text. |
Saccopharynx is a genus of deep sea eel-like fishes with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long scaleless bodies. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae. The name is from Latin saccus meaning "sack" and Greek pharynx.
Like other saccopharyngiforms, fishes in this genus are known as gulpers or gulper eels.
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 m (6,000 feet). Their tails are tipped by a luminous bulb-shaped organ. The exact purpose of this organ is unknown, though it is unlikely it is used as a lure.
Species
There are eleven species:
- Saccopharynx ampullaceus (Harwood, 1827)
- Saccopharynx berteli Tighe & Nielsen, 2000
- Saccopharynx flagellum Cuvier, 1829
- Saccopharynx harrisoni Beebe, 1932
- Saccopharynx hjorti Bertin, 1938
- Saccopharynx lavenbergi Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
- Saccopharynx paucovertebratis Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
- Saccopharynx ramosus Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
- Saccopharynx schmidti Bertin, 1934
- Saccopharynx thalassa Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
- Saccopharynx trilobatus Nielsen & Bertelsen, 1985
References
- "Saccopharyngidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 7 October 2008, at 23:05.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Saccopharyngidae".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.