First record of the ordinary eel, Ethadophis byrnei (Actinopterygii: Anguiliformes: Ophichthidae), in continental waters of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico: The southernmost occurrence in the eastern Pacific

Abstract

The ordinary eel, Ethadophis byrnei Rosenblatt et McCosker, 1970, is newly recorded from the Mexican south Pacific coast, based on a single specimen captured inside a tropical coastal lagoon in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. It was previously known only from Puertecitos, Baja California, northwest Mexico, from a specimen collected in 1967. Therefore, the new specimen represents the first record of the ordinary eel from the Panamic Province of the eastern Pacific, extending its known range approximately 2750 km southeast from Puertecitos. The diagnosis of the specimen was made by comparison with the holotype measurements and environmental information is provided from the collection area. The importance of this record is highlighted due to the scarce knowledge about the ordinary eel.