Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Nettastomatidae (Duckbill eels)
Etymology: Nettastoma: Greek, netta = duck + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335); melanura: From the Greek melan meaning black, dark, and oura meaning tail, referring presumably to the dark edges of the posterior part of the dorsal and anal fins.
More on author: Rafinesque.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 1647 m (Ref. 4454), usually 329 - 860 m (Ref. 47377). Deep-water; 45°N - 30°S, 98°W - 17°E
Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to the Gulf of Guinea including western Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico to the Guianas and to southern Brazil (Ref. 47377).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 53.5, range 42 - 68.2 cm
Max length : 79.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 96016); max. published weight: 255.50 g (Ref. 96016)
Vertebrae: 190 - 210. Usually five supratemporal pores, SO5 absent. Lateral line pores 43-49. Median vomerine teeth somewhat enlarged. Posterior nostril near anterodorsal margin of eye.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Occurs in holes on muddy bottoms of continental slope. Feeds mainly on crustaceans (Ref. 4776). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942.
Smith, D.G., 1990. Nettastomatidae. p. 172-175. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI; Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1. (Ref. 4454)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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