The Dogface Witch Eel, also known as the Nemateleotris magnifica, is a popular species among saltwater aquarium enthusiasts. Despite its name, the Dogface Witch Eel is not an eel but rather a type of dartfish. It belongs to the family Microdesmidae, which is characterized by elongated bodies and intricate color patterns. These captivating fish are native to the waters of the Indo-Pacific region, specifically around the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia. They are often found in coral reefs, where they hide among the crevices and seek shelter from predators. The Dogface Witch Eel is a relatively small fish, reaching a maximum length of about 8 centimeters.
Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) > Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) > Nettastomatidae (Duckbill eels)
Etymology: Facciolella: Latin, diminutive of falx, falcis = sickle (Ref. 45335) ; gilbertii: gilberti for Charles H. Gilberti, 1859-1928, a distinguished American ichthyologist (Ref. 4525) .
More on author: Garman .
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 935 m (Ref. 58018). Deep-waterDistribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Eastern Central Pacific: off Point Conception in California, USA to Panama (at least), and offshore for several hundred miles.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 61.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4525)
Inhabit scattering layers to depths of several thousand feet. Known to eat small, deep-sea crustaceans. Also captured mostly in bottom trawls (Ref. 4525). Oviparous (Ref. 35597). Planktonic leptocephali (Ref. 35597).
Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators
Charter, S.R., 1996. Nettastomatidae: duckbill eels. p. 135-139. In H.G. Moser (ed.) The early stages of fishes in the California Current region. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas No. 33. 1505 p. (Ref. 35597)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
CITES
Not Evaluated
CMS (Ref. 116361)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |More information
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AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | BOLDSystems | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GenBank: genome , nucleotide | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | MitoFish | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go , Search | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoological Record
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00089 (0.00036 - 0.00223), b=2.98 (2.77 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.4 ±0.45 se; based on food items. Generation time: 2.7 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1 growth studies. Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.40; tm=3-4). Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100).Accessed through: 2620 FishBase mirror site : localhost
Page last modified by : mrius-barile - 20 July 2016
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Mexican Fish.com
The Dogface Witch Eel is a relatively small fish, reaching a maximum length of about 8 centimeters. Its body is elongated and slender, with a pointed snout and a distinctive black dot at the base of the tail. The coloration of this species is truly mesmerizing, with vibrant yellow and blue hues adorning its body.
Photographs and species information from Mexico — by John Snow
Dogface Witch Eel
Dogface Witch Eel, Facciolella equatorialis
Dogface Witch Eel, Facciolella equatorialis. Fish provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, June 2012. Length: 38 cm (15 inches); Tail 76% of TL. Identification courtesy of H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California.
The Dogface Witch Eel, Facciolella equatorialis, is a member of the Duckbill Eel or Nettastomatidae Family, and is known in Mexico as serpentina bruja. Globally, there are six species in the genus Facciolella, of which one is found in Mexican waters, this fish from the Pacific Ocean.
The Dogface Witch Eels has a very elongated cylindrical slender body. They have a brown coloration that transitions to tan mid-body. They are covered with small black dots dorsally which are very dense on their upper snout, under their eyes, and on their gill covers. Their head is narrow with a long pointed snout, well-developed eyes, projecting jaws, and a large toothy mouth. Their anal and dorsal fins are confluent with their caudal fin; and their pectoral fins are small. Their tail is slender, attenuated, very pointed, and greater than 50% of total body length; it is often broken off and regenerated. Their lateral line is complete.
The Dogface Witch Eel is a bathypelagic species that is found in relatively deep water species found at depths between 64 m (210 feet) and 1,000 m (3,280 feet). They reach a maximum of 90 cm (2 feet 11 inches) in length. They feed on small deep sea crustaceans and fish. The Dogface Witch Eel is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.
The Dogface Witch Eel is difficult to identify and most likely will be confused with other similar appearing eels.
The Dogface Witch Eel in Mexican waters is virtually unknown and undocumented. They are believed to be found in all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean but documented collections are exceedingly rare.
From a conservation perspective the Dogface Witch Eel has not been formally evaluated. They are exceedingly rare and of limited interest to most.
Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) > Nettastomatidae (Duckbill eels)
Etymology: Facciolella: Latin, diminutive of falx, falcis = sickle (Ref. 45335) ; gilbertii: gilberti for Charles H. Gilberti, 1859-1928, a distinguished American ichthyologist (Ref. 4525) .
Environment / Climate / Range Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 935 m (Ref. 58018). Deep-water, preferred ?Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Eastern Central Pacific: off Point Conception in California, USA to Panama (at least), and offshore for several hundred miles.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 61.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4525)
Inhabit scattering layers to depths of several thousand feet. Known to eat small, deep-sea crustaceans. Also captured mostly in bottom trawls (Ref. 4525). Oviparous (Ref. 35597). Planktonic leptocephali (Ref. 35597).
Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators
Charter, S.R., 1996. Nettastomatidae: duckbill eels. p. 135-139. In H.G. Moser (ed.) The early stages of fishes in the California Current region. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas No. 33. 1505 p. (Ref. 35597)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around UsMore information
Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
Ecotoxicology
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development
Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Recruitment
Abundance
References
Aquaculture
Aquaculture profile
Strains
Genetics
Allele frequencies
Heritability
Diseases
Processing
Mass conversion
Collaborators
Pictures
Stamps, Coins
Sounds
Ciguatera
Speed
Swim. type
Gill area
Otoliths
Brains
Vision
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
BHL | Cloffa | BOLDSystems | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | Faunafri | Fishes of Iran | Fishtrace | GenBank( genome , nucleotide ) | GloBI | GOBASE | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | MitoFish | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Scirus | SeaLifeBase | Tree of Life | Wikipedia( Go , Search ) | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoological Record
Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00060 (0.00024 - 0.00154), b=3.09 (2.87 - 3.31), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).
This striking coloration serves as a form of camouflage, allowing the fish to blend seamlessly into its coral reef environment. In the wild, Dogface Witch Eels primarily feed on small crustaceans, such as copepods and amphipods. In captivity, they can be easily trained to accept a variety of frozen or live foods, including brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and bloodworms. It is important to provide them with a well-balanced diet to ensure their overall health and vitality. Despite their small size, Dogface Witch Eels are active and agile swimmers. They require a spacious aquarium with plenty of hiding spots to mimic their natural habitat. A mixed reef environment with live rock and coral formations is ideal for these fish, as it provides a suitable hunting ground and a safe refuge. It is important to ensure that the aquarium is properly maintained, with stable water parameters and adequate filtration. One fascinating behavior of the Dogface Witch Eel is that it often forms a symbiotic relationship with gobies. Gobies are small fish that live in burrows created by shrimps or other organisms. The Dogface Witch Eel will often share these burrows with gobies, providing protection and hunting opportunities for both parties. In conclusion, the Dogface Witch Eel is a captivating species that adds beauty and diversity to any saltwater aquarium. Its vibrant coloration and intriguing behavior make it a popular choice among hobbyists. With proper care and a suitable environment, these fish can thrive and provide years of enjoyment to their owners..
Reviews for "Dogface Witch Eel: A Master of Disguise and Deception"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Dogface witch eel" after hearing all the hype, but I was left extremely disappointed. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The plot was also confusing and unclear, with too many unnecessary twists and turns. Overall, I found the book to be highly overrated and not worth the hype.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Dogface witch eel" was an absolute disaster. The writing was amateurish and riddled with grammatical errors. I found myself constantly questioning the author's ability to construct coherent sentences. The storyline was bland and unoriginal, and the humor fell flat. I struggled to get through this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I was intrigued by the title and the book cover of "Dogface witch eel", but unfortunately, that's where my interest ended. The plot was convoluted and far-fetched, lacking any semblance of believability. The pacing was also inconsistent, with certain parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The characters were forgettable, and I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in this book. It simply wasn't for me.