Synaphobranchus kaupii Johnson, 1862
Kaup's arrowtooth eel
Synaphobranchus kaupii
photo by DESCNA

Family:  Synaphobranchidae (Cutthroat eels), subfamily: Synaphobranchinae
Max. size:  100 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 120 - 4800 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Faroes and Iceland to Cape Verde, Nigeria, Namibia (Ref. 27121), and South Africa. Western Atlantic: Greenland to Bahamas; also Brazil. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indo-West Pacific: Japan and Australia (Ref. 7300); absent in the Eastern Pacific except in Hawaii and the Indian Ocean.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 270. Dark purplish grey in color (Ref. 3973). Anal rays about 270 (Ref. 3973).
Biology:  Found on the continental slope near the upper limit of abyssal zone (Ref. 6726). Epibenthic (Ref. 58426). Probably most common in 800 to 2,000 m (Ref. 5235). Do not tolerate higher water temperatures (Ref. 5951). Feeds mainly on Decapoda, Natantia, amphipods, but also fishes and cephalopods (Ref. 6726). Caught by bottom longline and baited fish trap (Ref. 85806).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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