4 replies to this topic

[BenCantrell]

Here's an interesting fish that I'd like ID help with. A guy fishing next to me in Grand Isle, Louisiana caught it.





I found this PDF with good keys for eels in the Gulf.

http://texasseagrant...es_of_Texas.pdf

Using the keys this is what I came up with.

1b - Anus posterior to throat; body usually elongate but not ribbon-like; jaws elongate or short but occlusible distally.

2a - Posterior nostril located along edge of lip, usually covered by a small flap or in a short tube, and opening into or out of mouth.

--> Snake Eels (Ophichthidae)

1b - Caudal fin absent; tip of tail stiff.

2a - Pectoral fin present.

3b - Dorsal fin origin usually posterior to gill openings.

5b - Eye approximately centered above jaw.

6b - Dorsal fin origin posterior to tips of pectoral fins.

8a - Snout overhangs lower jaw; body without any distinctive pattern.

--> Shrimp Eel (Ophichthus gomesii)

Does it look like I got it right?

[mzokan]

Yup, that does look like a shrimp eel to me. They are a common species in shallow coastal waters in that part of the gulf

[BenCantrell]

Thanks mzokan. Here are the other fish we encountered.

Silver Perch (Bairdiella chrysoura)


Black Drum (Pogonias cromis)


Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)

[mattknepley]

Wow, that sheephead is massive! Must've used those enormous shark fishin' microhooks for it. (That line of yours still cracks me up every time it pops into my mind, which is surprisingly often.) Seriously though, look at those skewers that sheepshead has for dorsal rays- yikes!

Good job keying that eel out. I still have yet to effectively employ a key. I'd have gotten to 1b and defaulted to F. uglicuss...

[Betta132]

It looks like an old man eel. That's not a species (to my knowledge), it's a description. Eyes are kinda weird (third eyelid?) and it doesn't look like it has teeth. Are they recessed somehow?