Dalophis cephalopeltis (Bleeker, 1863)

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  53.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; brackish; marine
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Liberia to Congo. Reported from the Casamance and Gambia River (Ref. 28587).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Very similar to D. boulengeri. Dorsal origin very near behind gill slits (predorsal length 7.2-9.8% LT). Lateral line pores 73-80 before anus. Vertebrae: 184-191. Brown olive dorsal, whitish yellow ventral.
Biology:  Burrows in sand or mud in shallow water near estuaries and in rivers (Ref. 4455).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 June 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.