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Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Neobythitinae
Etymology: Bassozetus: Latin, bassus = thick, fat + Greek, ketos = marine mosnter, whale (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Alcock.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1500 - 2040 m (Ref. 31524). Deep-water
Indo-West Pacific: off East Africa to probably Hawaii and also off New Caledonia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 66.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 58167)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 120 - 127; Anal soft rays: 101 - 103; Vertebrae: 66 - 71. Snout inflated; eyes much smaller than snout; opercular spine weak or absent; preopercle without spines and posteriorly expanded almost reaching posterior margin of opercle; pseudobranchial filaments 2 (Ref. 34024).
Benthopelagic at bathyal and abyssal depths (Ref. 56809); found on the continental slope (Ref. 75154). Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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