| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
42.3 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range - 400 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: India. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 131-134. This moderate elongated species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: dorsal-fin origin slightly behind the pectoral-fin tip; pectoral fin lanceolate, slightly
shorter than the upper jaw in length; head length 6.7-7.5 in TL; pre-anal length 2.1-2.2 in TL; tail 1.9 in TL; head pores - SO 1 + 3, IO 4 + 2, POM 6 + 3; teeth small, conical and pointed; intermaxillary with a rosette of 10 teeth; vomer with 6 anterior teeth in irregular biserial rows, posterior teeth 11 in uniserial row; maxillary with 24-25 uniserial pointed teeth; in fresh, body yellowish-brown dorsally, whitish ventral, abdomen with numerous minute black pigmentation
extends up to tail, pectoral fin whitish with brown base; pre-dorsal vertebrae 17-18; pre-anal vertebrae 53-54; total vertebrae 131-134 (Ref. 130908). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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