Family CHLOPSIDAE
False Moray Eels, False Morays
Compiler and date details
John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates & Douglass F. Hoese
Introduction
Worldwide, eight genera and at least 18 species are currently recognised for the Chlopsidae (Castle 1984; Tighe 1992; Nelson 2006). One genus, three described species and one or two undescribed species have been collected in Australian waters.
False morays occur in shallow tropical waters (one deepsea species) of all oceans. They are similar to morays in lacking scales and lateral line pores on the body, but differ in having the posterior nostril low on the head, usually in the upper lip. Maximum size is about 44 cm.
The false morays or reef eels were reviewed by Böhlke (1956) and Böhlke & Smith (1968). Smith (1999) provided a key to genera from the Western Central Pacific region. Tighe (1989) presented reasons for recognising the name Chlopsidae in preference to the commonly used Xenocongridae for this family.
Three Australian Museum specimens of Kaupichthys from Lizard Island (14°40'S) and Escape Reef (15°50'S), Queensland, differ from K. brachychirus in a number of characters and may represent a new species. Another Australian Museum specimen from Escape Reef may represent a second new species.
D.G. Smith assisted greatly in the preparation of this family account.
General References
Böhlke, J.E. 1956. A synopsis of the eels of the family Xenocongridae (including the Chlopsidae and Chilorhinidae). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 108: 61-95 figs 1-8 pl. 1
Böhlke, J.E. & Smith, D.G. 1968. A new xenocongrid eel from the Bahamas, with notes on other species in the family. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 120(2): 25-43 figs 1-3
Castle, P.H.J. 1984. Notacanthiformes and Anguilliformes: development. 62-93 figs 29-43 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760
Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.
Smith, D.G. 1999. Families Halosauridae, Notacanthidae, Lipogenyidae, Anguillidae, Moringuidae, Chlopsidae, Myrocongridae. pp. 1625-1642 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 1397-2068 pp.
Tighe, K.A. 1989. Serrivomeridae. pp. 613-627 in Böhlke, E.B. (ed.). Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes. New Haven : The Sears Foundation of Marine Research, Yale University Pt 9 Vol. 1 655 pp.
Tighe, K.A. 1992. Boehlkenchelys longidentata, a new genus and species of chlopsid eel (Teleostei: Anguilliformes) from the Indo-West Pacific region. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 105: 19-22
Common Name References
Smith, D.G. 1999. Families Halosauridae, Notacanthidae, Lipogenyidae, Anguillidae, Moringuidae, Chlopsidae, Myrocongridae. pp. 1625-1642 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 1397-2068 pp. [1639] (FAO) (False Morays)