Gavialiceps bertelseni

Gavialiceps bertelseni is an eel in the family Muraenesocidae (pike congers). It was described by Emma Stanislavovna Karmovskaya in 1993. It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the southwestern slope of Madagascar, in the western Indian Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 670 to 1200 m. Males can reach a maximum total length of 84 cm.

The species epithet was given in memory of ichthyologist Erik Bertelsen.

Names
In Hindi the word Gavialiceps is translated as gavial and Bertelseni is named in memory of Erik Bertelsen.

Description
Color is dark-black. Dorsal and anal fin are dark in the caudal sections of the body. The gill and mouth cavities are dark but does not show through the skin.

Distribution
This species of eel is found in Western Indian Ocean in south-western Madagascar.