Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); kailashchandrai: Named for Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director, Zoological Survey of India.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Tropical
Eastern Indian Ocean: India, West Bengal.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 46.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 121592)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 180 - 182. This medium-sized species is distinguished by the following characters: preanal length 2.6-2.8 in TL; dorsal fin origin above posterior third of pectoral fin; pectoral fin well developed; posterior nostril is a hole in the upper lip opening towards the mouth, covered by a flap; a single barbel between anterior and posterior nostrils; teeth moderately elongated, conical and sharp; vomerine teeth start with single tooth, followed by two rows of biserial teeth and uniserial thereafter; maxillary and mandibular teeth uniserial throughout; 4 intermaxillary teeth in two rows; vertebrae: predorsal 14-15, preanal 54-55, total 180-182 (Ref. 121592).
Cross section: circular.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Mohapatra, A., D. Ray, S.R. Mohanty and S.S. Mishra, 2020. Ophichthus kailashchandrai sp. Now. (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae): a new species of snake eel from Indian waters, Bay of Bengal. Zootaxa 4728(2):283-288. (Ref. 121592)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
![Image of Ophichthus kailashchandrai (Kailash Chandra\](/images/thumbnails/gif/tn_OPHICHT0.gif "Image of Ophichthus kailashchandrai (Kailash Chandra\")
