Heterenchelyidae

Heterenchelyidae Temporal range: Maastrichtian–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Pythonichthys microphthalmus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Suborder:	Muraenoidei
Family:	Heterenchelyidae Regan, 1912
Genera
Panturichthys Pythonichthys

The Heterenchelyidae or mud eels are a small family of eels native to the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and eastern Pacific.

Heterenchelyids are bottom-dwelling fish adapted to burrowing into soft mud.

, and range from 32 to 149 cm (13 to 59 in) in length. Currently, eight species in two genera are recognized in this family.

The oldest known member of the family is Pythonichthys arkansasensis, known from fossilized otoliths from the Maastrichtian and Danian of the south-central United States.^[2][3]

References