| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae |
| Max. size: |
20.2 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 1000 - 2000 m |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean (except for its northern part) and the western Pacific. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 14-16, loin vertebrae 3-5 the last precaudal vertebrae without ribs; first gill arch with long gill rakers 18-21; pectoral-fin rays 16-18; HL:HD 1.38-1.63; maximal HD:HD through center of eye 1.35-1.70; weak head spines on ethmoidal, interorbital and 5th infraorbital; opercular spine sharp and extruding; opercular flap is moderately large; vomer narrow, naked or with few teeth or one row of teeth; palatines narrow with 1-3 rows of teeth; basibranchial tooth patch small, narrow with 1-3 rows of teeth; otolith large, 11.5-14.5 % in HL, with single colliculum; OL:OH = 1.22-1.34; OL:TCL = 2.46-2.92 (Ref. 125143). |
| Biology: |
The largest number of specimens were caught at great distance from the nearest shelf areas in the central Indian Ocean, nearly 2000 km above the Ninety-East Ridge. It was caught well above the sea bottom indicating that these fishes might obtain a bathypelagic rather than a benthopelagic life style (Ref. 125143). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
