General Information

COMMON NAMES: Java Spaghetti Eel, Java Worm Eel GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE e.Africa - Tuamotus; n. to s.Japan; s. To GBR COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native,; S.Group - unknown; N.Group (known from Manihiki only); Marine, near-shore, lagoon KEY FEATURES: A worm-like fish, with a lance-like tail; 8cm total length, and 2mm deep at gills; uniformly pale translucent green, with black eyes. Dorsal and annal fins are vestigial; the Pectoral Fins are minute; only the tail fin is conspicuous. SIMILAR SPECIES: Differs from Moringua abbreviata in dental pattern, and from Moringua javanica in having the posterior nostril smaller than the eye, and from both in being green.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN

Northern Group: Present
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
	P

Moringua javanica cf. (Kaup, 1856)
SYNONYMS: Aphthalmichthys javanicus [O]; Moringua semperviridens [of McCann67]

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); PISCES; OSTEICHTHYES; Anguilliformes; Anguilloidei; MORINGUIDAE

GENERAL NOTE: This species was named from a Manihiki specimen in 1967.

Vouchers:
Manihiki: 1 specimen #A958, s.of Tauhunu, outer reef flat, as n.sp. Moringua semperviridens (McCann, 1967).

References:
Special Reference: McCann, C. 1967. A new species of eel of the genus $Moringua@ (Pisces) from Manihiki Atoll, Northern Cook Islands. Trans. R. Soc., Zool. 8(20):211-213.

text p.52 Myers (1991 2nd Ed.) Fishes of Micronesia
plate 52 Myers (1991 2nd Ed.) Fishes of Micronesia

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM04b, zD02

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