Life history and habitat use of the speckled worm eel, Myrophis punctatus, along the east coast of the United States

Abstract

Many species of fishes along the east coast of the United States have complex life histories, especially those that move over hundreds of kilometers across ocean and estuarine habitats. To further unravel the life history of one of these, the speckled worm eel, Myrophis punctatus we examined samples from extensive time series and discrete samples collected in the ocean and estuaries between Florida and Massachusetts. We now surmise spawning occurs between fall and early winter in the ocean south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and in the vicinity of the Bahamas. The pelagic leptocephalus larvae (10-80 mm Total Length [TL]) are transported north in the Gulf Stream and across the continental shelf to arrive at estuarine inlets at ages of 53 -110 days. Their estuarine immigration and abundance varies along the east coast, with higher levels occurring at inlets in South Carolina (North Inlet), and North Carolina (Beaufort Inlet), during the winter and early spring. Much lower abundances occur in New Jersey (Little Egg Inlet) in winter and spring and again in the summer. These ingressing individuals were euryodontic leptocephali and metamorphic stages and were shrinking to lengths of 76-52 mm TL as these stages progressed. Metamorphic individuals and glass eels subsequently settle and burrow in estuarine sediments, as do all subsequent stages, and thereby become relatively unavailable to many sampling gears. In estuaries they Environ Biol Fish (2011) 92:237-259

Comparison of glass eel stages of American eel and speckled worm eel in a northeast Florida estuary

“…Spawning is thought to occur in autumn and early winter, and larvae enter estuaries 2–3 months later (Able et al . ). The timing of these inland migrations varies latitudinally from New Jersey to South Carolina, with larvae collected from November to July (Able et al .…”

“…The timing of these inland migrations varies latitudinally from New Jersey to South Carolina, with larvae collected from November to July (Able et al . ). From North Carolina to Florida, both species migrate inland concurrently (Warlen & Burke ; Able et al .…”

“…In summarising current evidence, Able et al . () include marine waters off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the Bahamas, the Florida Straits and the Gulf of Mexico as possible spawning areas for speckled worm eel. Spawning is thought to occur in autumn and early winter, and larvae enter estuaries 2–3 months later (Able et al .…”

“…From North Carolina to Florida, both species migrate inland concurrently (Warlen & Burke ; Able et al . ) and can be collected in the same sample. Able et al .…”

“…Able et al . () found that speckled worm eel enter estuaries in New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina as larvae, so the probability of collecting glass‐stage speckled worm eel may be higher in inland areas away from ocean inlets. However, this may not always be the case.…”