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Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Carapidae (Pearlfishes) > Carapinae
Etymology: Encheliophis: Greek, enchelys, = eel + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Sir Everard Home (1756–1832) was an English physician and naturalist, and an early wombat owner (in the early 19th century it was very fashionable to own exotic pets from Australia). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Richardson.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / distribuzione batimetrica / distribution range
Ecologia
marino associati a barriera corallina; non migratori; distribuzione batimetrica 0 - 30 m (Ref. 37816). Tropical; 25°N - 35°S
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the east coast of Africa (Ref. 583) to the Society Islands (Ref. 9710), as far north as Taiwan, but not Hawaii, and probably south to Tasmania.
Size / Peso / Age
Maturità: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.0 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 6347)
Raggi dorsali molli (totale) : 33 - 38; Raggi anali molli: 53 - 61; Vertebre: 116 - 128. Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; maxilla free and movable; cardiform teeth present; branchiostegal membranes partly or completely united; swim bladder with thin terminal membrane or bulb; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins, and swim bladder rocker bone (Ref. 34024).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like; Cross section: oval.
This uncommon (Ref. 34024) pearlfish inhabits the coelom and respiratory trees of some holothurians, especially Stichopus chloronotus and Holothuria argus. It is apparently in competition with Jordanicus gracilis [= Encheliophis gracilis] for its preferred host H. argus. Although most occur singly, there is a tendency towards sexual pairing inside the host. Found to depths over 30 m (Ref. 9710). Stomach contents which include amphipod, shrimp and fish indicate non-parasitic, foraging habits (Ref. 6395). Leaves host at night to prey on small fishes and shrimps (Ref 90102).
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 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Pesca: di nessun interesse
Strumenti
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Fonte Biblio.
123201): 25.3 - 29.3, mean 28.5 °C (based on 3175 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Fonte Biblio.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00102 (0.00046 - 0.00225), b=3.06 (2.88 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Fonte Biblio.
69278): 3.7 ±0.63 se; based on food items.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 75.7 [42.3, 139.8] mg/100g; Iron = 0.621 [0.363, 1.171] mg/100g; Protein = 17.2 [14.7, 19.6] %; Omega3 = 0.11 [0.06, 0.19] g/100g; Selenium = 29.3 [14.1, 62.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 134 [44, 382] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.59 [1.09, 2.23] mg/100g (wet weight);
