Neenchelys is a genus of snake eels native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. All species of Neenchelys have two rather than three preopercular pores (except for N. parvipectoralis which usually has one), a significant character among many species of ophichthids (McCosker 1977).
Species
There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus:
- Neenchelys andamanensis <small>Hibino, Satapoomin & Kimura, 2015</small> (Andaman worm eel)
- Neenchelys buitendijki <small>M. C. W. Weber & de Beaufort, 1916</small> (Fin-tail worm eel)
- Neenchelys cheni <small>(J. S. T. F. Chen & H. T. C. Weng, 1967)</small> (Chen's worm eel)
- Neenchelys daedalus <small>J. E. McCosker, 1982</small> (New Guinea worm eel)
- Neenchelys diaphora <small>H. C. Ho, J. E. McCosker & D. G. Smith, 2015</small> (Long-fin worm eel)
- Neenchelys gracilis <small>H. C. Ho & K. H. Loh, 2015</small> (Fringe-nose worm eel)
- Neenchelys mccoskeri <small>Hibino, H. C. Ho & Kimura, 2012</small> (McCosker's worm eel)
- Neenchelys microtretus <small>Bamber, 1915</small> (Small-fin worm eel)
- Neenchelys nudiceps <small>Tashiro, Hibino & Imamura, 2015</small> (Indonesian deep-sea worm eel)
- Neenchelys parvipectoralis <small>Y. T. Chu, H. L. Wu & X. B. Jin, 1981</small> (Mini-fin worm eel)
- Neenchelys pelagica <small>H. C. Ho, J. E. McCosker & D. G. Smith, 2015</small> (Pelagic worm eel)
- Neenchelys similis <small>H. C. Ho, J. E. McCosker & D. G. Smith, 2015</small> (Slender worm eel).
References