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Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Yirrkala: Named for its type locality Yirrkala, Caledon Bay, Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia; calyptra: Name from Greek word meaning veil, referring to its facial coloration; noun in apposition.
More on author: McCosker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Tropical
Western Pacific: Australia (Queensland).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 86861); 39.5 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 144 - 147. This species is distinguished by the following unique set of characters: head 6.3-6.6% of total length (TL); tail 46-49% of TL; dorsal fin origin is nearly above gill openings; eye behind middle of upper jaw; supraorbital pores 4; teeth are conical, minute, uniserial on jaws and posteriorly on vomer; colour yellowish, slightly darker dorsally, a distinctive black band from rear of orbit to rictus; total vertebrae 144-147; mean vertebral formula 7-75-146 (n=4) (Ref. 86861).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E., 2011. Two new Indo-Pacific species of the sand-eel genus Yirrkala (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Smithiana Bulletin 13:45-50. (Ref. 86861)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.00091 (0.00039 - 0.00215), b=2.99 (2.79 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±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 to moderate vulnerability (30 of 100).