Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); kusanagi: The name 'kusanagi' refers to the ancient holy sword 'kusanagi-no-tsurugi' (one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan) which was used by the legendary Japanese prince Yamato Takeru no Mikoto for
cutting grass and avoiding disaster at Suruga-no-kuni, the type locality of the species.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 285 - 480 m (Ref. 131479). Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: Japan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 65.1 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 131479)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 158 - 163. This species is distinguished by the following characters: head 7.3-9.1% TL; tail 58-60% TL; body depth at gill opening 2.6-3.0% TL; snout 18-20% HL; posterior nostril opening is slightly above upper lip, concealed by a broad dermal flap; mandibular pores 6; preopercular pores 2; teeth on maxilla and vomer biserial; pectoral fin short (length 22–31% HL), its posterodorsal tip pointed, not elongated; dorsal-fin origin is behind pectoral-fin tip 2.0-2.5 times pectoral-fin length (i.e. horizontal distance from a vertical through gill opening to the origin 3.0-3.5 in the fin length and 0.7-1.0 times head length); margin of anal fin not dark-colored margin; pectoral-fin rays 13; total vertebrae 158-163, mean vertebral formula 19-60-160 (Ref. 131479).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hibino, Y., J.E. McCosker and F. Tashiro, 2019. Four new deepwater Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Japan with a redescription of Ophichthus pallens (Richardson 1848). Ichthyological Research 66(2):289-306. (Ref. 131479)
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
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
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 to high vulnerability (46 of 100).
