Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Bascanichthys: Greek, baskanos, -os, -on = evil eye + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); ryukyuensis: Named for its type locality, in Ryukyu Islands.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 1 m (Ref. 127464). Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: Japan (Ryukyu Is.).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 51.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 127464); 62.7 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 207 - 216. This species is distinguished by the following characters: an extremely elongate body; head 3.7-4.3% TL; tail 43.3-44.2% TL; predorsal-fin length 40.7-45.4% of head length; snout length 11.3-13.1% of HL; lateral-line pores anterior to anus 114-118; total vertebrae 207-216, mean vertebral formula 2-116-212; dorsal-fin origin slightly before the middle of head and before first lateral-line pore. Colouration: body pale brown, and head without distinct dark bands after preservation (Ref. 127464).
Two specimens were reported to have been collected as stranded specimens caused by the extremely low temperatures by a serous cold wave coming from the Arctic. In the type locality, several species of Muraenidae, Ophichthidae, Apogonidae, Syganidae, etc., were also collected at the same time (Ref. 127464).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hibino, Y., K. Yamashita, Y. Sakurai and H.-C. Ho, 2022. Two new species of the snake eel genus Bascanichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the northwestern Pacific. Zootaxa 5189(1):103-113. (Ref. 127464)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [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): 3.8 ±0.6 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 (45 of 100).