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Research dossier · Science & Nature

Orangehead worm-eel

species of fish

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Science and natureInterpretive dossier study · Crown Archives visual atlas
Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionMar 5, 2024
Entity authorityQ2227773 ↗
Source-derived summary

The orangehead worm-eel (Scolecenchelys xorae) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by J.L.B. Smith in 1958, originally under the genus Muraenichthys. It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the western Indian Ocean, including South Africa, Réunion, Mauritius and Madagascar. Males can reach a maximum total length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in).

Editorial summary

Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Orangehead worm-eel” is species of fish. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Orangehead, worm-eel and species, not as a finished interpretation.

Editorial reviewA sound reference starting point where classification, measurement and the date of the underlying evidence remain visible. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1958—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. For this dossier, Orangehead, worm-eel and species is the immediate research focus.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

The phrase “species of fish” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.

Evidence profile

The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Mar 5, 2024. The linked authority identifier is Q2227773. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1958.

Critical limits

Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.

Best used for
  • Current terminology
  • Classification context
  • Finding cited technical literature
Verify next

Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Orangehead worm-eel”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Orangehead worm-eel primary sources, Orangehead worm-eel archive and Orangehead research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Orangehead worm-eel”?
  2. Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
  3. Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from “Orangehead worm-eel” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.