Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); bicolor: Name from Latin, referring to its sharply contrasting coloration; noun in apposition.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 200 - 400 m (Ref. 106143). Subtropical
Distribution
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Northwest Pacific: Taiwan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 92.7 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 106143)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 155 - 163. This moderately elongate species is distinguished by the following characters: tail 53-58%, head 8.6-10.8%, and body depth at gill opening 2.5-3.4% of total length; dorsal-fin origin is behind the gill opening by 2.0-2.5 pectoral-fin lengths; pectoral fin pointed, not elongate; the posterior nostril is a hole above the upper lip, covered by a flap that extends slightly below the edge of the mouth; upper lip without barbels; pores are small but conspicuous, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 6+2; teeth are large and conical, biserial anteriorly on vomer and maxillary, uniserial on mandible; body yellowish-tan, strongly contrasting with white throat and belly, the fins pale; total vertebrae 155-163, mean vertebral formula 18-64-158 (Ref. 106143).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E. and H.-C. Ho, 2015. New species of the snake eels Echelus and Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Taiwan. Zootaxa 4060(1):71-85. (Ref. 106143)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±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): High vulnerability (57 of 100).
