| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
62.8 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 36 - 1350 m |
| Distribution: |
Northwest Pacific: Taiwan. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 158-162. Body uniformly grayish or brown to nearly black. Dorsal fin origin well behind pectoral fin tips; pectoral fin rounded, not elongate and well-developed. Posterior nostril a hole above the upper lip, covered by a flap that extends to or below the edge of the mouth. Upper lip lacks barbels between anterior and posterior nostrils. Pores small but conspicuous, SO 1 + 4, IO 4 + 2, POM 6 +2. Teeth small and conical, biserial on anterior vomer and jaws (Ref. 40865). |
| Biology: |
This species is captured by trawl over sand and muddy bottom between 36-1350 and observed from submersibles to be most abundant between 250-350 m, with only the heads exposed over sandy substrates or resting on the sediment with their bodies in S-shaped curves (Ref. 86730). Mature females collected 48-62.8 cm TL (Ref. 40865). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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