Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); hirritus: Name from Latin 'hirritus' meaning to snarl like a dog; refers to its facial appearance.
More on author: McCosker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 600 m (Ref. 84366). Deep-water
Western Indian Ocean: off the Seychelle Islands.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 52.6, range 52 - 53.4 cm
Max length : 52.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 84366); 53.4 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 171 - 172. This moderately elongate and slender species of Ophichthus, subgenus Coecilophis is distinguished by the following characters: tail 58-59% and head 7.9-8.4% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin 3 pectoral-fin lengths behind gill opening; rounded pectoral fins; posterior nostril a hole in upper lip covered with a flap; inconspicuous head pores, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 3+5; stout, conical and numerous teeth, biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly on vomer, biserial on maxillary and biserial anteriorly on mandible; color uniform brown, paler ventrally, fins pale; mean vertebral formula 19/62/171, total vertebrae 171-172 (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).