Ophichthus mystacinus McCosker, 1999

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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