Bassozetus multispinis Shcherbachev, 1980

Family:  Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae
Max. size:  44.7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 1500 - 2000 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean.
Diagnosis:  Snout inflated; eyes much smaller than snout; opercular spine weak or absent; preopercle without spines and posteriorly expanded almost reaching posterior margin of opercle; pseudobranchial filaments 2 (Ref. 34024).
Biology:  Occurs on or near the bottom at continental slope depths (Ref. 84269). Rare species (Ref. 34024). Reproductive strategy possibly similar to other members of this family featuring oviparity, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). A female specimen caught was with 0.5 mm eggs (Ref. 84269).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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