Blackfin sorcerer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackfin sorcerer eel |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Phylum: | |
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| Family: |
Nettastomatidae
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| Genus: |
Nettastoma
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| Species: |
N. melanurum
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| Binomial name | |
| Nettastoma melanurum Rafinesque, 1810
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| Range (in blue) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Leptocephalus longirostris |
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The blackfin sorcerer (Nettastoma melanurum) is a cool type of eel that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a family of eels called Nettastomatidae. You can find these special eels only in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Where Do Blackfin Sorcerer Eels Live?
Blackfin sorcerer eels make their homes in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They also live in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea. You'll find more of them around the Caribbean, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and the northern Mediterranean Sea. These eels like to live deep underwater, from about 37 meters (121 feet) down to 1647 meters (5403 feet)!
What Does a Blackfin Sorcerer Eel Look Like?
When they are fully grown, blackfin sorcerer eels are usually about 50 to 60 centimeters (about 1.6 to 2 feet) long. The longest one ever found was a male that measured 73 centimeters (about 2.4 feet)!
These eels look a lot like other eels in their family. They have a special mouth shape that looks a bit like a duck's bill. Their bodies are brown, and they have a black fin that runs all the way from just behind their head to their tail. This is why they are called "blackfin" sorcerers! Adult eels of this species do not have pectoral fins (the fins on the sides, like arms). Their mouth is black and quite large compared to the rest of their body.
Their Home and What They Eat
Blackfin sorcerer eels are known to live in holes. They make these holes on the bottom of continental slopes, which are the parts of the ocean floor that slope down from the land.
Like all animals, blackfin sorcerer eels have natural enemies. Some fish, like the European Hake (which is a type of cod), like to eat them. But what do these eels eat? They hunt for small crustaceans, like tiny crabs or shrimp, and also small fish.
