Dysommina orientalis Tighe, Ho & Hatooka, 2018
Oriental arrowtooth eel

Family:  Synaphobranchidae (Cutthroat eels), subfamily: Ilyophinae
Max. size:  62 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 120 - 400 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 137-141. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: predorsal vertebrae 11-12, total vertebrae 137-141, eye diameter less than 10% head length; vomerine dentition is reduced to 3 large compound teeth set in papillose pads with a fourth small tooth more posteriorly, maxillary and mandibular teeth numerous but small (Ref. 129611). Compared to specimens collected from Taiwan and Japan, the only Vietnamese specimen has a slightly larger pre-anal length, 30.3% TL (vs. 27.0%-29.8% TL) and a slightly shorter tail 69.7% TL (vs. 70.2%-73.0% TL); specimen has an adnasal pore, whereas absent in the Taiwanese specimen (Ref. 131161).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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