Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 360 m (Ref. 84366). Temperate
Northwest Pacific: Kumano-nada, off Owase, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 33.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12708)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 160. This moderately elongate species of Ophichthus, subgenus Coecilophis is distinguished by the following characters: tail 55%, head 11.0% of total length and body depth at gill openings about 4% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin 3.5 pectoral-fin lengths behind head which is more than 1 head length behind gill opening; elongate pectoral fins, non-lanceolate; posterior margin or orbit in advance of rictus; posterior nostril a hole above upper lip is covered by a flap; conspicuous head pores, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 3+6; numerous small, conical teeth, biserial on jaws, uniserial posteriorly on vomer, biserial anteriorly; pale in color, slightly darker dorsally, snout tip and lower jaw darker, fins and anterior nostrils pale, posterior region of anal-fin base black; vertebral formula 29/60/160 (Ref. 84366).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Asano, H., 1987. A new ophichthid eel, Ophichtus megalops, from the Kumano-nada, Japan. Jap. J. Ichthyol. 34(2):135-137. (Ref. 12708)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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