Ophichthys | |
---|---|
Ophichthys cuchia | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Synbranchiformes |
Family: | Synbranchidae |
Subfamily: | Synbranchinae |
Genus: | Ophichthys Swainson, 1839 |
Species | |
See text |
Ophichthys is a genus of swamp eels native to South Asia. They live in freshwater or subterranean habitats, and some have a fossorial lifestyle.[1]
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 John Swainson, was revived to be used for them.[1][2] Ophichthys was formerly a wastebasket taxon used to lump in many unrelated species of eel-like fish (all of which are classified in separate genera today) and later synonymized with Monopterus until its resurrection.[3]