Revised 27 Oct. 2023
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Family name from Heterenchelys Regan 1912, a junior synonym of Pythonichthys: héteros (Gr. ἕτερος), different, representing a different (i.e., new) family and genus related to but with “important differences” from Moringua (Moringuidae); énchelys (Gr. ἔγχελυς), eel.
Panturichthys Pellegrin 1913 pantós (Gr. παντός), genitive of pā́s (πᾶς), all, whole or very; ourá (Gr. οὐρά), tail; referring to long tail of P. mauritanicus, nearly twice as long as rest of fish; ichthýs (Gr. ἰχθύς), fish
Panturichthys fowleri (Ben-Tuvia 1953) in honor of American ichthyologist Henry Weed Fowler (1878–1965), Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, acknowledged for his “kind help” in determining the identity of two other undescribed Mediterranean fishes from Israel
Panturichthys isognathus Poll 1953 equal-jawed, from ísos (Gr. ἴσος), equal, and gnáthos (Gr. γνάθος) jaw, referring to equal size of jaw compared with prominent lower jaw of P. mauritanicus
Panturichthys longus (Ehrenbaum 1915) Latin for long, allusion not explained, probably referring to its long body shape or longer body shape compared with P. mauritanicus
Panturichthys mauritanicus Pellegrin 1913 –icus (L.), belonging to: Baie du Lévrier, Mauritania, type locality
Pythonichthys Poey 1868 Python , from Pýthōn (Gr. Πύθων), mythical serpent slain by Apollo near Delphi, allusion not explained, presumably referring to long ´snake-like body; ichthyos (Gr.) fish
Pythonichthys asodes Rosenblatt & Rubinoff 1972 asṓdēs (Gr. ἀσώδης), muddy or slimy, referring to its habit of burrowing into soft mud
Pythonichthys macrurus (Regan 1912) large-tailed, from makrós (Gr. μακρός), long or large, and oura (Gr.), tail, referring to its tail more than three times as long as rest of fish
Pythonichthys microphthalmus (Regan 1912) small-eyed, from mikrós (Gr. μικρός), small, and ophthalmós (Gr.), eye, although size of eye is not mentioned
Pythonichthys sanguineus Poey 1868 Latin for blood-red, referring to color of fresh specimens