Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); pallens: Name from Latin meaning pale (Ref. 131479).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Tropical
Northwest Pacific: Japan to China.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 33.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 131479)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 169 - 173. This species is distinguished by the following characters: head 7.7-7.9% TL; tail 61% TL; body depth at gill opening 2.1-2.5% TL; dorsal-fin origin is behind pectoral-fin tip by about two pectoral-fin lengths; pectoral fin is elongate; posterior nostril a hole within upper lip, not visible externally; upper lip with two small but prominent protrusions beneath first infraorbital pore and mid-orbit; supraorbital pores one + three; mandibular pores 5; preopercular pores 2; teeth are small and conical, irregularly biserial on jaws and vomer; total vertebrae169-173, mean vertebral formula 18-64-171. Colouration: uniform tan dorsally and pale ventrally, fins are pale without dark margins (Ref. 131479).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like; Cross section: oval.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hibino, Y., J.E. McCosker and F. Tashiro, 2019. Four new deepwater Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Japan with a redescription of Ophichthus pallens (Richardson 1848). Ichthyological Research 66(2):289-306. (Ref. 131479)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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