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Nemichthyidae  - Snipe Eels

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia 
 Phylum: Chordata
 Superclass: Osteichthyes
 Class: Actinopterygii
 Order: Anguilliformes
 Family: Nemichthyidae 


american eelThere are nine species in this family of pelagic eels. (The pelagic zone of the ocean the parts of the ocean that are not nears the shore of the cean bottom.) Snipe eels are found in ocean waters around the world. They are usually found at depths of 1,000-2,000 feet.

Snipe eels are slender and around 3-5 feet in length. Their most unusual feature is their jaw. They have long, slender jaws that curve in opposite directions at the end. The upper jaw curves up and the lower jaw curves down. Snipe eels get their name from a bird, the snipe, that has a long, slender bill similar to the snipe eel's jaw.

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct Not Enough DataNot Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Endangered in US Endangered in US Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.
  New Hampshire Status Key
Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH More Info Click for More Info picture Click for Image
atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranian Mediterranean/Black Sea pacific ocean Pacific Ocean

 North/Central American Species

Avocettina bowersii North America South America pacific ocean More Info
Boxer Snipe Eel - Nemichthys curvirostris Africa Australia South America North America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean More Info
Avocet Snipe Eel - Avocettina infans Africa Asia Australia Europe North America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean image More Info
Labichthys carinatus Africa Australia North America South America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean image More Info
Nemichthys larseni North America pacific ocean More Info
Slender Snipe Eel - Nemichthys scolopaceus Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranian pacific ocean image More Info

Species Around the World

Southern Snipe Eel - Avocettina acuticeps Africa Australia South America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean More Info
Avocettina paucipora Africa Asia Australia atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean More Info
Yano's Snipe Eel - Labichthys yanoi Australia pacific ocean More Info

 

 

 Additional Information

Resource Key
profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Avocet Snipe Eel - Avocettina infans profile Photos Africa Asia Australia Europe North America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean
The avocet snipe eel is found in tropical to temperate waters around the globe, except for in the Mediterranean and the eastern Pacific.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Labichthys carinatus profile Africa Australia North America South America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean
Labichthys carinatus
is found in the Eastern Atlantic near the Canary Islands, in the Western Atlantic from the US to Brazil, in the Western Indian Ocean off Madagascar and in the Eastern Pacific near Hawaii.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Slender Snipe Eel - Nemichthys scolopaceus profile Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranian pacific ocean
The slender snipe eel is found in temperate and tropical seas around the world, including the Mediterranean.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Southern Snipe Eel - Avocettina acuticeps profile Africa Australia South America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean
The southern snipe eel is found in southern ocean waters around the globe, except for in the eastern Pacific.

Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Avocettina bowersii profile North America South America pacific ocean
Avocettina bowersii is found from California to Peru.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Avocettina paucipora profile Photos Africa Asia Australia atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean
Avocettina paucipora is found in the Southwest Atlantic and southern Indian and Pacific oceans.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Yano's Snipe Eel - Labichthys yanoi profile Australia pacific ocean
Yano's snipe eel is found in the south Pacific Ocean in the waters around New Zealand and Australia.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Boxer Snipe Eel - Nemichthys curvirostris profile Africa Australia South America North America atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean pacific ocean
The Boxer Snipe Eel is found in tropical and temperate waters around the globe.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Nemichthys larseni profile North America pacific ocean
Nemichthys larseni  is found in the eastern Pacific from Oregon to Mexico. It is also found in Hawaii.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School