Sains Malaysiana 41(8)(2012): 949–952

Notes on the Snake Eel Neenchelys buitendijki (Ophichthidae:

Myrophinae), a New Record for Malaysia

(Mengenai Belut Ular Neenchelys buitendijki(Ophichthidae: Myrophinae),

Satu Rekod Baru untuk Malaysia)

Hsuan-Ching Ho

National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium

Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Dong Hwa University

No. 2, Houwan Rd., Checheng

Pingtung, 944 Taiwan

Hong-Wooi Teoh & Ving-Ching Chong*

Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences/Institute of Biological Sciences

University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 5 October 2011 / Accepted: 21 March 2012

ABSTRACT

Neenchelys buitendijkiWeber and de Beaufort, 1916 from Malaysia is reported for the first time. Five specimens collected from Matang, Peninsular Malaysia, represent the third record in the Indo-western Pacific region. A detailed description is provided to document the species into the fish fauna of Malaysia.

Keywords: Anguilliformes; fish; Neenchelys; new record; taxonomy

ABSTRAK

Neenchelys buitendijkiWeber and de Beaufort, 1916 dari Malaysia telah dilaporkan buat kali pertama. Lima spesimen yang telah dikutip dari Matang, Barat-Laut Semenanjung Malaysia, merupakan rekod ketiga dari rantau Indo Pasifik Barat. Huraian terperinci telah diterangkan untuk mendokumentasi spesis ini dalam senarai fauna ikan di Malaysia.

Kata kunci: Anguilliformes; ikan; Neenchelys; rekod baru; taksonomi

REFERENCES

Böhlke, E.B. 1989. Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Number 1. Memoirs of the Sears Foundation of Marine Research Part 9. (Vol. 1.) Orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Manilo, L.G. & Bogorodsky, S.V. 2003. Taxonomic composition, diversity and distribution of coastal fishes of the Arabian Sea. Journal of Ichthyology 43(1): S75-S149.

McCosker, J.E. 1999. Ophichthidae. In Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Batoid fishes, chimeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae), Carpenter, K.E. and V.H. Niem. p. 724-733 FAO, Rome.

Mohamed, K.H. 1958. On the occurrence of the eel Neenchelys buitendijkiWeber & de Beaufort in Indian waters. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 55(3): 511-517.

Nelson, G.J. 1966. Osteology and relationships of the eel, Neenchelys buitendijki. Copeia 1966(2): 321-324.

*Corresponding author; email: chong@um.edu.my