Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); congroides: Named for the similarity of its posterior nostril condition to that of certain congrids.
More on author: McCosker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 300 m (Ref. 84366). Deep-water
Eastern Central Pacific: off Tuamotu Islands.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 52.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 84366); 47.2 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 204 - 208. This moderately elongate species of Ophichthus, subgenus Coecilophis is distinguished by the following characters: tail 60-63% and head 8.3-8.4% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin above mid-pectoral fin; elongate and lanceolate pectoral fins; posterior nostril opens within outer lip, with a small anterior flap; small head pores but apparent, SO 1+4, IO 4+2-3, POM 2+6; small, conical and numerous teeth, biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly on vomer, biserial on maxillary and partially biserial on mandible; color uniform brown-gray, paler on ventral and dorsal surfaces, fins pale; mean vertebral formula 21/76/206, total vertebrae 204-208 (Ref. 84366).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E., 2010. Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species. Zootaxa 2505:1-39. (Ref. 84366)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
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): 3.9 ±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): Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100).