Detecting new eel species of fake eel family (Chlopsidae)

In the framework of the State-level key scientific research project KC.08.25.11 / 15 "Research on solutions to recover degraded coastal lagoon and lake ecosystems in the Central region" , the scientist from the Department of Marine Biodiversity Conservation (Institute of Marine Environment and Resources) and scientists from the Fisheries Research Department (Mie University) and Kagoshima Museum (University of General Kagoshima), Japan has discovered and described the new eel species of the fake eel family (Chlopsidae) from specimens collected in Thuy Trieu lagoon, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province.

The scientific name of this species is named Oriental eel (Chlopsis orientalis Tighe, Hibino & Nguyen). The name of the species is placed according to the collection location of the specimen representing the coastal area of ​​Southeast Asia.

Holotype original specimens of Chlopsis orientalis Eastern eel, body length 269mm, specimen number IMER-16495.

Chlopsis variety of the Chlopsidae family, Anguilliformes eel is currently recorded with 9 species, distributed within Indian - Western Pacific waters. They are common in mature stages in coral reefs and juveniles in mangrove forests and coastal sea grass. Compared to other families in the eel set, mature individuals usually have a smaller body length of 11-42cm.

The Oriental eel Chlopsis orientalis Tighe, Hibino & Nguyet n are characterized by the short length of the head (10% of the whole body length), the number of vertebrae before the dorsal fin is 11, before the anal fin is 35 and The total number of vertebrae is 135. The body has two main colors and no white stripe on the head, the bones are very hard.

Specimens were collected in Thuy Trieu lagoon, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa in the dry season in the net with mixed fish species belonging to bottom fish group with small body size such as Bong, Ca Liet and Ca Son fish.

This discovery was published in the specialized journal Zootaxa No. 460 (1), pages 19-29, December 24, 2015.

Comparison of head morphology of two species of Chlopsis: A: Chlopsis bicolor, IIPB 105/2006 and B. Chlopsis orientalis, IMER - 16495.

Comparison of the vertebrae between the body and the macula system of two species of Chlopsis bicolor, IIPB 105/2006 and B Chlopsis orientalis, IMER - 16495.