Protanguilla palau is a species of eel, the only species in the genusProtanguilla (first eel), which is in turn the only genus in its family, Protanguillidae. Its common name is Palauan primitive cave eel. Individuals were found swimming in March 2010 in a deep underwater cave in a fringing reef off the coast of Palau.[1]
Protanguilla
(a) Holotype, female, 176 mm SL. (b–g) Paratype, juvenile, 65 mm SL; (c,d) head in lateral and ventral view; (e) gill opening; (f,g) stained body scales.[1]
Protanguillidae is a sister group to all other eels.[3] They are monophyletic, yet also strongly synapomorphic with all other eel species. Molecular analysis shows that all other eels are also monophyletic, showing that they may have broken off directly from the Protanguillidae. For this reason it is known as a "living fossil".[4]
Characteristicsedit
The body is very small and slender, about 18 cm long.[5][4] The eel has a second premaxilla and under 90 vertebrae, features previously found only in fossilised eels. Its full set of gill rakers in its branchial arches has never previously been found in an eel, but is common in bony fish.[6] It is very different from all other living eels, and scientists estimate it must have diverged from the others around 200 million years ago, during the Mesozoic era. It thus has not only its own species, but also its own genus and family, as well, and has been referred to by scientists as a "living fossil".[4]
Referencesedit
^ abJohnson, G. D.; Ida H.; Sakaue J.; Sado T.; Asahida T.; Miya M. (2012). "A 'living fossil' eel (Anguilliformes: Protanguillidae, fam nov) from an undersea cave in Palau". Proceedings of the Royal Society. (in press) (1730): 934–943. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1289. PMC3259923. PMID 21849321.
^McCosker, J.; Tighe, K.; Smith, D. G. (2022). "Protanguilla palau". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T103707334A103708468. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T103707334A103708468.en. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
^Springer, V. G. (2015). The Gill-Arch Musculature of Protanguilla, the Morphologically Most Primitive Eel (Teleostei: Anguilliformes), Compared with That of Other Putatively Primitive Extant Eels and Other Elopomorphs, 103(2), 595–620. doi: 10.1643/CI-14-152
^ abcRincon, Paul (17 August 2011). "New Pacific eel is a 'living fossil', scientists say". BBC News. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
protanguilla, palau, species, only, species, genus, first, which, turn, only, genus, family, protanguillidae, common, name, palauan, primitive, cave, individuals, were, found, swimming, march, 2010, deep, underwater, cave, fringing, reef, coast, palau, holotyp. Protanguilla palau is a species of eel the only species in the genus Protanguilla first eel which is in turn the only genus in its family Protanguillidae Its common name is Palauan primitive cave eel Individuals were found swimming in March 2010 in a deep underwater cave in a fringing reef off the coast of Palau 1 Protanguilla a Holotype female 176 mm SL b g Paratype juvenile 65 mm SL c d head in lateral and ventral view e gill opening f g stained body scales 1 Conservation status Data Deficient IUCN 3 1 2 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Anguilliformes Suborder Protanguilloidei Family ProtanguillidaeG D Johnson H Ida amp Miya 2012 Genus ProtanguillaG D Johnson H Ida amp Miya 2012 Species P palau Binomial name Protanguilla palauG D Johnson H Ida amp Sakaue 2012 Protanguillidae is a sister group to all other eels 3 They are monophyletic yet also strongly synapomorphic with all other eel species Molecular analysis shows that all other eels are also monophyletic showing that they may have broken off directly from the Protanguillidae For this reason it is known as a living fossil 4 Characteristics edit source source source source source The body is very small and slender about 18 cm long 5 4 The eel has a second premaxilla and under 90 vertebrae features previously found only in fossilised eels Its full set of gill rakers in its branchial arches has never previously been found in an eel but is common in bony fish 6 It is very different from all other living eels and scientists estimate it must have diverged from the others around 200 million years ago during the Mesozoic era It thus has not only its own species but also its own genus and family as well and has been referred to by scientists as a living fossil 4 References edit a b Johnson G D Ida H Sakaue J Sado T Asahida T Miya M 2012 A living fossil eel Anguilliformes Protanguillidae fam nov from an undersea cave in Palau Proceedings of the Royal Society in press 1730 934 943 doi 10 1098 rspb 2011 1289 PMC 3259923 PMID 21849321 nbsp McCosker J Tighe K Smith D G 2022 Protanguilla palau IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022 e T103707334A103708468 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2022 2 RLTS T103707334A103708468 en Retrieved 20 February 2024 Springer V G 2015 The Gill Arch Musculature of Protanguilla the Morphologically Most Primitive Eel Teleostei Anguilliformes Compared with That of Other Putatively Primitive Extant Eels and Other Elopomorphs 103 2 595 620 doi 10 1643 CI 14 152 a b c Rincon Paul 17 August 2011 New Pacific eel is a living fossil scientists say BBC News Retrieved 17 August 2011 Fossil eel squirms into the record books Agence France Presse 16 August 2011 Scientists discover the most primitive living eel eurekalert org 2011 Retrieved 17 August 2011 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Protanguilla palau nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Protanguilla Youtube video nbsp This Anguilliformes article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Protanguilla amp oldid 1209229358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
