Ophichthys


Ophichthys is a genus of swamp eels native to South Asia. They live in freshwater or subterranean habitats, and some have a fossorial lifestyle.

Taxonomy

All species in this genus were formerly classified in Monopterus, but a 2020 study found them to represent a distinct monophyletic clade from Monopterus. Due to this, the genus name Ophichthys, previously coined by William Swainson, was revived to be used for them. Ophichthys was formerly a wastebasket taxon used to lump in many unrelated species of eel-like fish and later synonymized with Monopterus until its resurrection.

Species

  • Ophichthys cuchia
  • Ophichthys desilvai
  • Ophichthys fossorius
  • Ophichthys hodgarti
  • Ophichthys ichthyophoides
  • Ophichthys indicus
  • ''Ophichthys terricolus''