RESEARCH ARTICLE

New records and new information on four eel species from Oman (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Congridae, Muraenesocidae)

David G. Smith, Laith A. Jawad & L.H. Al-Kharusi

Abstract

Four species of marine eels are reported for the first time from waters of Oman in the western Arabian Sea. Conger macrocephalus Kanazawa, 1958 (Congridae) was known previously only from the Philippines and Taiwan. We report one specimen from Oman.Congromuraena musteliceps Alcock, 1894 (Congridae), a species of uncertain generic classification, was previously known only from the type series collected in the Bay of Bengal. We report two specimens from Oman and provide an extended description of the species and comment on its relationships. Xenomystax trucidans Alcock, 1894 (Congridae) has been known only from the holotype collected in the Bay of Bengal. We redescribe the species on the basis of three specimens from Oman and provide a key to the known species of the genus. Sauromuraenesox vorax Alcock, 1889 (Muraenesocidae) was known previously from the Bay of Bengal. We report three specimens from Oman and one from the eastern Arabian Sea.