Slender snipe eel
The slender snipe eel (Nemichthyes scolopaceus) is a unique species found in the Atlantic waters of North America, belonging to the family Nemichthyidae. Known colloquially as the deep sea duck, this eel features a long, bill-like jaw similar to that of the snipe bird. Typically residing at depths of 650 feet (200 meters) or more, it is adapted to a deep-sea environment, although it may venture into shallower areas in northern regions. The slender snipe eel has a distinctive thin, tapered body, reaching lengths of up to four feet (120 centimeters), and is decorated with dark brown speckles.
One notable aspect of its anatomy is the long, sharp jaws, which some males lose upon reaching adulthood, developing instead a shorter snout. The eel primarily feeds on deep-sea shrimp, capturing its prey by hanging upside down and using its open jaws. The life cycle of the slender snipe eel begins with a larval stage known as a leptocephalus, which metamorphoses into its adult form around one foot in length. This species is believed to have a lifespan of approximately 10 years, with reproductive activity occurring relatively early in adulthood. Overall, the slender snipe eel showcases a remarkable adaptation to its deep-sea habitat and feeding strategies.
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Slender snipe eel
The slender snipe eel is one of nine species of snipe eels living in the Atlantic waters of North America. It is also known as the deep sea duck, for its unique features. This includes a bill that is similar in shape to the snipe, which is a type of bird. Like the snipe, the eel's jaws are long, sharpl, and pointed.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Osteichthyes
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Nemichthyidae
Genus: Nemichthyes
Species: Scolopaceus
The slender snipe eel makes its home in the waters along the continental shelf where the edge of the continent ends and the water suddenly becomes deep ocean. Depths of 650 feet (200 meters) or more are the common habitat of this species, but it may enter shallower waters in the northern part of its range. The other eight species also live in deep waters, either near the middle or near the bottom.
The slender snipe eel has a thin, tapered body, and a ribbon-like tail. Dark brown speckles cover its brown body, which is up to four feet (120 centimeters) long. A single, short fin runs the entire length of the eel's body on its back, around its tail, and along its underside. The eel's anus is located near its throat, just behind its pectoral fins.
The long, thin, beak-like jaws are sharp and pointed, with the tips bending slightly away from each other so they do not close. A male loses his long jaws when he becomes an adult and instead develops a simple, short snout. A female keeps her long jaws throughout her life. Numerous small teeth line the inside and outside of the jaws of the young snipe eel. It loses many of these teeth as it becomes an adult. With fewer teeth, it is believed the adults may not eat very much. It is further thought that slender snipe eels reproduce early in their adult life and die shortly afterward.
The few slender snipe eels observed in the ocean appear to feed mainly on deep sea shrimp. The eels typically hang upside down in the water with their mouths open, pointed downward. The shrimp have long legs and antennae which may become entangled in the eel's jaws and teeth. Since the tips of the eel's jaws do not close, it must move the shrimp closer to its mouth where its jaws can grip and swallow its prey.
A young eel hatches from its egg as a larval, or non-adult, form called a leptocephalus. The leptocephalus does not resemble an eel but appears more like a small, clear leaf. The leptocephalus metamorphoses, or changes, into the adult form when it is one foot (30 centimeters) long. It is not certain how old the eel is when this happens.
The lifespan of the slender snipe eel is believed to be about 10 years.
Similar species:
- Boxer snipe-eel(Nemichthys curvirostris)
- (Nemichthys larseni)
Bibliography
“Nemichthyes Scolopaceus.” Animal Diversity Web, 2004, animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/Grzimek‗fish/Anguilliformes/Nemichthys‗scolopaceus. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
“Slender Snipe Eel.” Oceana, oceana.org/marine-life/slender-snipe-eel. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
“Slender Snipe Eel.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/slender-snipe-eel. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.