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Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Ophidiinae
Etymology: Lepophidium: Latin, lepus, leporis = rabbit + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Jordan & Bollman.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 4 - 90 m (Ref. 34024). Tropical; 33°N - 7°S, 118°W - 77°W (Ref. 91765)
Eastern Pacific: from the northern part of the Gulf of California to Paita, Peru and along the outer coast of Baja California.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 29.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 91765)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 124 - 134; Anal soft rays: 105 - 113; Vertebrae: 70 - 74. This species is characterized by the following: usual number of vertebrae, precaudal 15 (14-16), caudal 56-58 (55-59), total 71-73 (70-74); fin rays, dorsal 127-133 (124-134), anal 107-112 (105-113), pectoral 21-24 (20-24); pyloric caeca usually 4 (3-5) in a single whorl except the 5th, when present is in a 2nd tier; first gill arch with rudimentary rakers 3 on the upper arm, 4 (rarely 5) developed rakers on the lower limb, 2-9 (usually 4-8) rudimentary rakers anteriorly on the first arch; total rakers 8-16 (usually 11-15) with most variation due to anterior rudiments; dorsal-fin origin between neural spines 4-5 (85 specimens), less often between 3-4 (6 specimens), or 5-6 (8 specimens) (Ref. 91765).
Common species (Ref. 34024) found on muddy bottom (Ref. 9329). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Robins, C.R., R.H. Robins and M.E. Brown, 2012. A revision of Lepophidium (Teleoastei, Ophidiidae), with descriptions of eight new species. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 52(1):1-94. (Ref. 91765)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 18.4 - 28.7, mean 24.6 °C (based on 96 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00229 (0.00128 - 0.00410), b=3.14 (2.98 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100).
