Monday, July 25, 2011

Leptocephalus Is An Eel Larva

This large size leptocephalus must be a species of Muraenidae (moray eels), and probably the larva of a long thin ribbon eel, which is metamorphosing, not feeding, and is entering shallow water to finish metamorphosis into a young eel. Leptocephali are the unusual transparent larvae of eels and their close relatives. Because they are transparent they are so hard to spot and are hardly ever sighted.....awesome!




oh.. and whilst we are on the topic of worm-like creatures in the sea...here is a close-up of the head of one of those worms that hangs out on the sea bed around those hydrothermal vents. Pretty lil thang!

[VIA]

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