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Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Ophidiinae
Etymology: Parophidion: Greek, para in the side of + Greek, ophidion, diminitive of ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Karl Patterson Schmidt (1890–1957) was a herpetologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Subtropical
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Bahamas and southern Florida (USA) to northern South America.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Scales on body in anguilloid pattern, somewhat overlapping, interorbital region scaled, opercle naked, cheeks, top of head forward to centre of interorbital region scaled; ethmoid spine reduced to a low bump; gill chamber and guts pale; no pyloric caeca; males with posterior opening on swim bladder; the two pelvic fin rays equally long or very nearly so (Ref. 34024).
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Adults occur in shallow coastal waters, usually in turtle grass beds (Ref. 7251). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.4 - 28, mean 27.2 °C (based on 214 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00257 (0.00122 - 0.00544), b=3.17 (2.98 - 3.36), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).