| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
87 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 37 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific, |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 174-183. Yellowish white, speckled and spotted with darker coalescing spots (Ref. 3972).
Description: Characterized by head length 14-16 in TL; depth of body 37-58 in TL; short tail, 2.6-2.8 in TL; dorsal fin origin slightly posterior to corner of mouth; no pectoral fins; intermaxilla with 2-4 backward slanting canines in ventral groove under snout; remaining teeth of jaws small and uniserial; uniserial vomerine teeth (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits shallow areas, beneath loose gravel and sand (Ref. 1602); also in lagoons and seaward sand patches, solitary in sand, head usually protruding (Ref 90102). It is usually collected from over sand and rock bottoms using ichthyocides, from tide pools depths to 37 m (Ref. 27478). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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