Ophichthus gomesii (Castelnau, 1855)
Shrimp eel
Shrimp eel
Ophichthus gomesii
photo by Sazima, I.

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  91.4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 450 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil; absent in the Bahamas and most Caribbean islands. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Inhabits soft bottoms. Occurs in bays and backwaters to offshore banks, less commonly to 180 m depth. The most common eel on Florida shrimp grounds. Rarely consumed (Ref. 3795).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 September 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Ref. 13442, 26938.


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