Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Synaphobranchidae (Cutthroat eels) > Ilyophinae
Etymology: Ilyophis: Greek, ilyos, -ou = cave + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Jacques Blache (1922–1994) was a French ichthyologist who worked for the Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d’Outre-Mer (ORSTOM) in Kampuchea (1948–1953) and in various African countries including Chad, Congo and Senegal (1953–1973). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 580 - 2023 m (Ref. 26895). Deep-water; 57°N - 36°S
Northeast Atlantic, Southeast Atlantic and southern Indian Ocean.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 79.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26895)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Body large, robust; either partially scaled or naked body. Broad, angular posterior nostril flap, with flap and nostril rim ornamented with numerous leaf-like marginal projections. Very oblique gill slits (ca 30° relative to horizontal axis of the body).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Found on the lower continental slope at 1,465-2,070 m (Ref. 6726). Carnivorous, feeding primarily on galatheid crustaceans (Ref. 6726). Probably spawn in June-July (Ref. 6726).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Sulak, K.J. and Y.N. Shcherbachev, 1997. Zoogeography and systematics of six deep-living genera of synaphobranchid eels, with a key to taxa and description of two new species of Ilyophis. Bull. Mar. Sci. 60(3):1158-1194. (Ref. 26895)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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