Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
Max. size: |
42.9 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 371 - 824 m |
Distribution: |
Western Pacific: New Caledonia, Tonga, Fiji, and the Philippines. |
Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 162-177. This moderately elongate species of Ophichthus, subgenus Coecilophis is distinguished by the following characters: tail 59-60%, head 10.7-11.7% of total length, body depth behind gill openings 3.6-4.3% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin about mid-trunk; elongate pectoral fins with the central rays threadlike; posterior margin of orbit ahead of rictus; small and inconspicuous head pores, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 2+6; small, conical and numerous teeth, biserial in jaws and anteriorly on vomer; yellowish tan in color, brown dorsally, fins and anterior nostrils pale; snout tip smudged but not blackened; mean vertebral formula 34.2/61.3/169.7, total vertebrae 162-177 (Ref. 84366). |
Biology: |
|
IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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