Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Anal spines: 0; Vertebrae: 145-159.

Body elongate and scaleless compressed posteriorly. Head broad with prominent, long conical snout. Mouth very large, reaching posteriorly beyond eye, with large conspicuous teeth. In lower jaw a middle row of prominent, sharp, tricuspid, erect teeth. Median vomerine teeth sharply triangular in lateral view, compressed, with anterior and posterior basal cusp and the bases often in contact. Eye large. Posterior nostrils much closer to eyes than to anterior nostrils. Anterior nostril tubular. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with caudal fins.

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 220cm TL. Commonly 80-150cm TL.

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits soft bottom areas in estuaries (sometimes enters freshwater environments) and coastal waters (depth? – 800m, typically down to 300m). Feeds on small benthic fishes and crustaceans.

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. A five year survey of the artisanal catch at Victoria market did not record it. This specimen was found discarded at the Roche Caiman pontoon, the circumstances of its capture are unknown.  The species was recorded by Smith & Smith (1963) in the Seychelles in the mid-1950s.

Notes:

Photos courtesy of Greg Berke.

References:

Bray, D.J. Muraenesox cinereus in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/2043 (26/04/20).

FAO. Species Fact Sheets. Muraenesox cinereus http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2205/en (26/04/20).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2020. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/298 (26/04/20).

Nevill, J. (2019). Artisanal Fishery catch monitoring database.

Smith, J.L.B. & Smith, M.M. (1963). The Fishes of Seychelles. Department of Ichthyology. Rhodes University. Grahamstown

Citation: