Ophichthus pullus McCosker, 2005
Ophichthus pullus
photo by McCosker, J.E.

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  58.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 106 - 154 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: off Angola and Guinea-Bissau.
Diagnosis:  This moderately elongate species is distinguished by the following characters: head 8.5-8.9%, tail 57-61%, body depth at gill opening 2.8-3.3% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin well behind pectoral-fin tips; rounded pectoral fin, 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 with no barbels between anterior and posterior nostrils; small pores conspicuous, SO 1 + 4, IO 4 + 2, POM 6 + 2; small and conical teeth, biserial on anterior vomer and jaws; uniform gray-brown to nearly black in color; total vertebrae 149-153, mean vertebral formula 20.3-56.3-151.3 (Ref. 86730).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.