Synaphobranchus kaupii (Johnson, 1862)
Kaup's arrowtooth or cut-throat eels
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The Synaphobranchidae are a family of eels known as the arrowtooth or cut-throat eels. They are benthopelagic from 400 to 4,800 m near the upper limit of the abyssal zone and are distributed in the study area from the Faroes south past Ireland to northwest Africa (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
The cut-throat eels exhibit considerable morphological variation, but all have an elongate body and have leptocephali with telescopic eyes. Synaphobranchus kaupi has a slender elongate body and a conical head with the tip of its snout turned downwards. Scales are present on the body but not on the head and the colouration is black to brown with a lighter edge on the vertical fins anteriorly (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
During the present survey, Kaups arrowtooth eel was recorded from the Porcupine Bight, Porcupine Bank, Rockall Bank, Darwin Mounds, Western Darwin Mounds and the Galicia Bank. They were recorded on or over a variety of substrates. All appeared to be somewhat disturbed by the presence of the camera.
The family do not appear to be of any commercial importance.
There is more information available for this species in FishBase.
Prepared by: Ecological Consultancy Services Ltd www.ecoserve.ie