PBDB Taxon

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Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Anguilliformes (eel)

Actinopteri - Anguilliformes

Taxonomy

Anguilliformes was named by Greenwood et al. (1966). It is extant.

It was assigned to Teleostei by Thurmond and Jones (1981); to Osteichthyes by Purdy et al. (2001) and Sepkoski (2002); to Elopomorpha by Constantin (1999), Forey et al. (2003) and Nelson (2006); to Teleostei by Fierstine et al. (2012); to Actinopterygii by Weems (1999) and Fourriére et al. (2014); and to Elopomorpha by Nolf and Dockery (1990), Carnevale (2007), Long (2011), Betancur et al. (2013), Bannikov (2014) and Nelson et al. (2016).

Synonyms

Apodes was named by Latreille (1804). It is extant.

It was synonymized subjectively with Anguilliformes by Dundee (1989).

It was assigned to Teleostea by Jaekel (1911); to Teleosti by Jordan (1963); and to Actinopterygii by Casier (1966).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1804	Apodes Latreille
1911	Apodes Jaekel p. 91
1963	Apodes Jordan p. 629
1966	Apodes Casier p. 168
1966	Anguilliformes Greenwood et al.
1981	Anguilliformes Thurmond and Jones p. 95
1990	Anguilliformes Nolf and Dockery III p. 3
1999	Anguilliformes Constantin
1999	Anguilliformes Weems p. 59
2001	Anguilliformes Purdy et al. p. 162
2002	Anguilliformes Sepkoski
2003	Anguilliformes Forey et al. p. 228
2006	Anguilliformes Nelson
2007	Anguilliformes Carnevale p. 8
2011	Anguilliformes Long p. 242
2012	Anguilliformes Fierstine et al. p. 13
2013	Anguilliformes Betancur et al.
2014	Anguilliformes Bannikov p. 25
2014	Anguilliformes Fourriére et al. p. 380
2016	Anguilliformes Nelson et al. p. 139

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
superclass	Actinopterygii	()

Rank	Name	Author
class	Actinopteri	()
subclass	Neopterygii	(Regan 1923)
—	Teleosteomorpha
—	Teleostei	(Müller 1846)
—	Elopocephalai
—	Elopocephala
—	Elopomorpha	()
order	Anguilliformes	Greenwood et al. 1966
order	Anguilliformes	Greenwood et al. 1966

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Or. Anguilliformes Greenwood et al. 1966 [eel]

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G. †Abisaadia Belouze et al. 2003

†Abisaadia hakelensis Davis 1887

Fm. Anguillidae Rafinesque 1810

G. Anguilla Schrank 1798

†Anguilla brevicula Agassiz 1839

†Anguilla latispina Agassiz 1839

†Anguilla multiradiata Agassiz 1843

†Anguilla pachyura Agassiz 1843

†Anguilla rectangularis Stinton and Nolf 1970

†Anguilla ventralis Agassiz 1839

G. †Eoanguilla Blot 1978

†Eoanguilla leptoptera Agassiz 1835

Subor. Anguilloidei

G. †Muraenanguilla Schwarzhans 2019

†Muraenanguilla balegemensis Schwarzhans 2019

†Muraenanguilla lacinata Schwarzhans 2019

Fm. †Anguilloididae

G. †Anguilloides Cadrobbi 1962

†Anguilloides branchiostegalis Eastman 1905

G. †Veronanguilla Blot 1978

†Veronanguilla ruffoi Blot 1978

G. †Bolcanguilla Blot 1981

Bolcanguilla brachycephala Blot 1980

G. †Brannerion Jordan 1920

G. †Casierius Estes 1969

Subor. Chlopsoidei

Fm. †Chlopsidae

G. †Whitapodus Blot 1981

†Whitapodus breviculus Agassiz 1835

G. Congermuraena Kaup 1856

†Congermuraena amoris Sulc 1932

†Congermuraena panatelli Bassoli 1906

Fm. Congridae Kaup 1856 [conger eel]

G. Ariosoma Swainson 1838

Ariosoma balearica Delaroche 1809

Ariosoma globosum Steurbaut 1984

†Ariosoma moravica Sulc 1932

†Ariosoma nonsector Nolf and Stringer 2003

Ariosoma selenops Reid 1934

Subfm. Ariosominae

G. †Parbatmya Frizzell and Dante 1965

Parbatmya brazosensis Frizzell and Dante 1965

G. †Astroconger Jordan and Hubbs 1925

†Astroconger rostratus Stinton 1957

G. Bassanago Whitley 1948

G. †Bathycongrus Ogilby 1898

†Bathycongrus circularis Casier 1966

†Bathycongrus mysticus Frost 1934

†Bathycongrus waihaoensis Schwarzhans 2019

G. Blachea Karrer and Smith 1980

Blachea semeniformis Schwarzhans 2019

G. †Bolcyrus Blot 1978

†Bolcyrus bajai Blot 1978

†Bolcyrus formosissimus Eastman 1905

G. Conger Schaeffer 1760

†Conger acutus Stinton 1957

†Conger davidsmithi Schwarzhans 2019

†Conger dissimilis Frizzell and Lamber 1962

†Conger fornicatus Frizzell and Lamber 1962

†Conger glaber Brzobohaty 1967

†Conger illaesus Schwarzhans 2003

†Conger oceanicus Mitchill 1818

Conger tokoroa Schwarzhans 2019

†Conger vetustus Frizzell and Lamber 1962

G. †Congridarum Kaup 1856

†Congridarum brevisulcus Schwarzhans 1980

†Congridarum carinatus Frost 1934

†Congridarum clifdenensis Frost 1928

†Congridarum grantmackiei Grenfell 1984

†Congridarum obrutus Stinton 1957

†Congridarum occidentalis Weiler 1959

†Congridarum thevenini Priem 1906

†Congridarum websteri Frost 1933

G. Gnathophis Kaup 1860

†Gnathophis araroa Schwarzhans 2019

†Gnathophis flemingi Schwarzhans 1980

Gnathophis habenatus Richardson 1848

†Gnathophis incognitus Castle 1963

†Gnathophis meridies Frizzell and Lamber 1962

†Gnathophis ornatus Frost 1928

†Gnathophis saubriguensis Steurbaut 1979

Gnathophis umbrellabius Whitley 1948

G. †Gorgasia Meek and Hildebrand 1923 [garden eel]

G. †Heteroconger Bleeker 1868 [garden eel]

†Heteroconger astroblematicus Schwarzhans and Bratischko 2011

†Heteroconger mataura Schwarzhans et al. 2017

Subfm. Heterocongrinae

G. Taenioconger Herre 1923

G. †Maxwelliella Schwarzhans 1980

†Maxwelliella urbana Schwarzhans 1980

G. Mystriophis Kaup 1856

G. †Notoconger Schwarzhans 2019

†Notoconger devexus Schwarzhans 2019

†Notoconger hesperis Schwarzhans 2019

G. Paraconger Kanazawa 1961

Paraconger guianensis Kanazawa 1961

†Paraconger sauvagei Priem 1906

†Paraconger sector Koken 1888

G. †Paracongroides Blot 1978

†Paracongroides heckeli Blot 1978

G. †Promyllantor Alcock 1890

†Promyllantor guttulus Stinton 1975

G. Pseudophichthys Roule 1915

†Pseudophichthys acer Schwarzhans 1985

†Pseudophichthys elongatus Sulc 1932

G. Pseudoxenomystax Breder 1927

Pseudoxenomystax bulbiceps Whitley 1948

†Pseudoxenomystax hirsutus Castle 1960

†Pseudoxenomystax whangaimoanensis Schwarzhans 1980

G. Rhechias Jordan 1922

†Rhechias angulosus Schwarzhans 2003

Rhechias armiger Jordan 1922

Rhechias tysanochila Reid 1934

G. Rhynchoconger Jordan and Hobbs 1925

†Rhynchoconger aftonensis Stinton 1975

†Rhynchoconger casieri Bauza Rullan 1955

†Rhynchoconger donzacquensis Nolf 1988

Rhynchoconger ectenurus Jordan and Richardson 1909

†Rhynchoconger ellipticus Weiler 1958

†Rhynchoconger eocenicus Shepherd 1916

Rhynchoconger flavus Goode and Bean 1896

†Rhynchoconger otaianus Schwarzhans 2019

†Rhynchoconger otapiriensis Frost 1934

Rhynchoconger pantanelli Bassoli 1906

Rhynchoconger pantanellii Bassoli and Schubert 1906

†Rhynchoconger placidus Schwarzhans et al. 2017

†Rhynchoconger regularis Stinton 1957

†Rhynchoconger sanctus Frizzell and Lamber 1962

†Rhynchoconger subtilis Schwarzhans et al. 2017

†Rhynchoconger transversus Sulc 1932

†Rhynchoconger weileri Jonet 1973

Invalid names: Hildebrandia Jordan and Evermann 1927 [synonym]

G. Scalanago Whiteley 1935

†Scalanago extatus Schwarzhans 1985

G. †Tonganago Schwarzhans et al. 2017

†Tonganago coplandi Schwarzhans et al. 2017

†Tonganago fastigatus Schwarzhans 1980

†Tonganago obliquum Stinton 1957

†Tonganago sagittisulcatus Schwarzhans 1980

†Tonganago wharenga Schwarzhans 2019

G. Uroconger Kaup 1856

†Uroconger eocaenicus Sulc 1932

†Uroconger eocaenicus rostrata Sulc 1932

†Uroconger rectus Frost 1928

†Uroconger validus Casier 1966

G. †Voltaconger Blot 1978

†Voltaconger latispinus Agassiz 1835

G. †Xenomystax Gilbert 1891

Invalid names: Bathymyrinae [empty], Congrinae [empty]

Superfm. Congroidea

Fm. Serrivomeridae

G. †Serrivomer Gill and Ryder 1883

Subor. Congroidei Regan 1909

Fm. Derichthyidae

Invalid names: Colocongridae [synonym]

Fm. †Encheliidae Hay 1903

G. †Enchelion Hay 1903

†Enchelion montium Hay 1903

Fm. Nettastomatidae Jordan and Davis 1891

G. Nettastoma Rafinesque 1810

†Nettastoma obscurus Schwarzhans 1980

Invalid names: Cyemidae [empty], Dysommidae [empty], Neenchelyidae [empty], Nettastomidae [empty], Sauromuraenesocidae [empty], Xenocongridae [empty]

G. †Eodiaphyodus

G. †Eomuraena Casier 1967

G. Eomyrophis Whitley 1950

G. †Gazolapodus Blot 1981

Gazolapodus homopterus Blot 1980

G. †Hayenchelys Belouze et al. 2003

†Hayenchelys germanus Hay 1903

Fm. Heterenchelyidae

G. Heterenchelys Regan 1912

G. Panturichthys Pellegrin 1913

†Panturichthys grenfelli Schwarzhans 2019

G. Pythonichthys Poey 1868

G. Hoplunnis Kaup 1860

G. Japonoconger Asano 1958

G. Lemkea Kotthaus 1968

G. Leptocephalus Gronow 1763

†Leptocephalus gracilis Agassiz 1835

†Leptocephalus medius Agassiz 1835

Leptocephalus monganius Phillipps 1932

Fm. †Libanechelyidae Taverne 2004

G. †Libanechelys Taverne 2004

†Libanechelys bultyncki Taverne 2004

G. †Luenchelys Belouze et al. 2003

†Luenchelys minimus Belouze et al. 2003

G. †Micromyrus Casier 1967

Fm. †Milananguillidae

G. †Milananguilla Blot 1978

†Milananguilla lehmani Blot 1978

Subor. Moringuoidei

Fm. Moringuidae

G. †Deutschenchelys Prokofiev 2012

†Deutschenchelys micklichi Prokofiev 2012

G. Moringua Gray 1831

†Moringua fissura Stinton and Nolf 1970

†Moringua waimumuensis Schwarzhans et al. 2017

Fm. Muraenesocidae

G. Muraenesox Mclelland 1843

†Muraenesox cybium Casier 1966

†Muraenesox furcatus Schwarzhans 2007

Fm. Muraenidae

G. Anarchias Bloch 1795

G. †Congeris

†Congeris brevior Koken 1888

†Congeris wharekuriensis Frost 1928

G. Echidna Forster 1788

Echidna nebulosa Ahl 1789

Echidna nocturnus Cope 1872

G. †Eomyrus Eastman 1905

†Eomyrus ventralis Agassiz 1844

G. Gymnothorax Bloch 1795

†Gymnothorax diagonalis Stinton and Nolf 1970

†Gymnothorax mordax Ayres 1859

Gymnothorax octavianus Myers and Wade 1941

G. Muraena Linnaeus 1758

Muraena conger Linnaeus 1758 [European conger]

†Muraena saheliensis Arambourg 1927

G. †Otolithus Koken 1884

Subg. Otolithus (Labrax) Pallas 1810

†Labrax lepidotus Agassiz 1836

†Labrax major Agassiz 1834

†Labrax schizurus Agassiz 1835

†Labrax vogdtii Bogatshov 1942

Subg. †Otolithus (Platessa) Bassoli 1906

†Platessa sector Koken 1888

Subg. †Otolithus (Platessae) Koken 1888

Invalid names: Heteromyridae [synonym], Muraeninae [empty], Uropterygiinae [empty]

Subor. †Muraenoidei

Fm. †Deprandidae Jordan 1924

G. †Deprandus Gilbert 1921

†Deprandus lestes Jordan and Gilbert 1921

Invalid names: Myrocongridae [empty]

G. †Mylomyrus Woodward 1910

†Mylomyrus frangens Woodward 1910

G. Myroconger Guenther 1879

Fm. Nemichthyidae

G. †Oligonemichthys Ciobanu 1977

†Oligonemichthys photophorae Ciobanu 1977

Fm. Ophichthidae

G. Echelus Rafinesque 1810

Echelus myrus Linnaeus 1758

G. †Goslinophis Blot 1981

†Goslinophis acuticaudus Agassiz 1835

Subfm. Ophichthinae

G. Ophisurus Lacépède 1800

G. Pisodonophis Kaup 1856

G. †Ophichthus Ahl 1789

†Ophichthus mignolo Lin et al. 2017

Invalid names: Myrophinae [empty]

G. †Palaeomyrus Casier 1967

Fm. †Paranguillidae

G. †Dalpiazella Cadrobbi 1962

†Dalpiazella brevicauda Cadrobbi 1962

G. †Paranguilla Bleeker 1864

†Paranguilla tigrina Agassiz 1839

G. †Parechelus Casier 1967

Fm. Patavichthyidae

G. †Patavichthys Blot 1981

Patavichthys bolcensis Bassani 1897

G. †Proserrivomer Arambourg 1967

Subor. Protanguilloidei

Invalid names: Protanguillidae [empty]

Fm. †Proteomyridae

G. †Proteomyrus Cadrobbi 1962

†Proteomyrus ventralis Agassiz 1839

G. †Rhynchocymba Jordan and Hubbs

Subor. Saccopharyngoidei Nelson et al. 2016

Invalid names: Cyematidae [empty], Monognathidae [empty]

Subor. Synaphobranchoidei

Subfm. Ilyophinae

Invalid names: Dysommatinae [synonym]

Fm. Synaphobranchidae

Invalid names: Simenchelyinae [empty], Synaphobranchinae [empty]

G. †Urenchelys Woodward 1900

†Urenchelys abditus Wiley and Stewart 1981

†Urenchelys anglicus Woodward 1900

†Urenchelys avus Woodward 1901

Invalid names: Apodes Latreille 1804 [synonym], Eurypharyngidae [empty], Saccopharyngidae [empty], Urenchelyidae Hay 1903 [empty]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

marinesubp

Locomotion:

actively mobileo

Life habit:

nektobenthico

Diet:

carnivoreo

Created:

2009-07-20 20:49:55

Modified:

2009-07-20 22:49:55

Source: o = order, subp = subphylum

References: Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Aptian to the top of the Holocene or 122.46000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 113.0 Ma

Collections (263 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Late/Upper Aptian	122.46 - 113.0	Brazil (Pernambuco)	Brannerion sp. (193049 193050 193051 193052)
Albian	113.0 - 100.5	USA (Texas)	Casierius heckeli (99144)
Early/Lower Albian	112.03 - 109.0	USA (Texas)	Casierius heckelii (27774)
Late/Upper Cenomanian	99.6 - 93.5	Lebanon	Anguilla hakelensis (221158) Anguillavus quadripinnis, Abisaadia hakelensis (69118 221079) Anguillavus quadripinnis, Anguillavus mazeni, Hayenchelys germanus (213132) Libanechelys bultyncki (213133) Luenchelys minimus, Anguillavus quadripinnis, Anguillavus mazeni, Hayenchelys germanus, Abisaadia hakelensis (221065) Urenchelys germanus, Anguillavus bathshebae, Enchelion montium (221230) Urenchelys germanus, Anguillavus quadripinnis, Anguillavus bathshebae (221229)
Middle Cenomanian	99.6 - 93.5	Lebanon	Anguillavus quadripinnis (213197) Luenchelys minimus (124426 221947)
Early/Lower Turonian - Middle Turonian	93.5 - 89.3	United Kingdom (England)	Urenchelys anglicus (222452 222453)
Coniacian - Santonian	89.8 - 83.6	Italy (Gorizia)	Anguilliformes indet. (103811 116133)
Santonian	86.3 - 83.6	USA (Kansas)	Urenchelys abditus (94652)
Campanian	83.6 - 72.1	Italy	Anguilliformes indet. (35332)
Maastrichtian	72.1 - 66.0	USA (Maryland)	Anguilloidei indet. (127085)
Danian	66.0 - 61.6	Mexico (Chiapas)	Anguilliformes indet. (190738)
Tertiary	66.0 - 2.58	USA (Mississippi)	Otolithus americanus, Otolithus hospes, Otolithus elegantus, Otolithus insuetus, Otolithus similis, Otolithus laevigatus, Otolithus cor, Otolithus comes, Otolithus glaber, Otolithus brevior, Otolithus sector (163732)
Selandian	61.6 - 59.2	USA (Alabama)	Rhynchoconger sp., Congridarum sp. (87817)
Selandian	61.6 - 59.2	Denmark	Conger illaesus, Rhechias angulosus (159792 159793) Rhechias angulosus (159794 159795)
Selandian - Thanetian	61.6 - 56.0	Ukraine	Heteroconger astroblematicus (159509)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Italy (Verona)	Anguilliformes indet. (190957)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	United Kingdom (England)	Echelus branchialis (76601)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Turkmenistan	Anguilliformes indet. (186444)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Italy	Voltaconger latispinus, Bolcyrus formosissimus, Anguilloides branchiostegalis, Veronanguilla ruffoi, Milananguilla lehmani, Paranguilla tigrina, Dalpiaziella brevicauda, Bolcyrus bajai, Paracongroides heckeli, Whitapodus breviculus, Proteomyrus ventralis, Patavichthys bolcensis, Bolcanguilla brachycephala, Gazolapodus homopterus, Goslinophis acuticaudus, Eoanguilla leptoptera (94830)
Eocene	56.0 - 33.9	USA (Louisiana)	Conger fornicatus (84176)