Tauredophidium hextii

Tauredophidium hextii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Ophidiiformes
Family:	Ophidiidae
Subfamily:	Neobythitinae
Genus:	Tauredophidium
Species:	T. hextii
Binomial name
Tauredophidium hextii Alcock, 1890

Tauredophidium hextii is a species of cusk-eel found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. It occurs at depths of from 1,500 to 2,660 metres (4,920 to 8,730 ft). This species grows to a length of 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) SL. It is the only known member of its genus.[1]

Etymology

The specific name honours Rear-Admiral John Hext (1842-1924) who was commander of the Royal Indian Marine who supported the expedition in board the R.I.M.S. Investigator in the Arabian Sea which collected the type specimen.[2] Only one larval specimen has been identified and was similar in overall form to the related bony-eared assfish and gargoyle cusk, with multiple elongate pectoral-fin rays[3]

References

1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Tauredophidium hextii". FishBase. June 2012 version.
2. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (21 March 2018). "Order OPHIDIIFORMES: Families CARAPIDAE and OPHIDIIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
3. Girard, Matthew G.; Nonaka, Ai; Baldwin, Carole C.; Johnson, G. David (2024). "Discovery and description of elaborate larval cusk-eels and the relationships among Acanthonus, Tauredophidium, and Xyelacyba (Teleostei: Ophidiidae)". Early Life History and Biology of Marine Fishes: Research Inspired by the Work of H Geoffrey Moser: 20–42. doi:10.7755/pp.24.3.