Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); oligosteus: Name from the Greek 'oligo' for few and 'osteus' for bones, referring to it having the fewest vertebrae of the genus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: Japan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 29.1 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 121. This species is distinguished by the following characters: head 9.7% TL; tail 61% TL; mandibular pores 7; preopercular pores 4; teeth on maxilla biserial, vomer uniserial; dorsal-fin origin is slightly behind pectoral-fin tip; body without blotches or bars, melanophores gathering along lower lip; predorsal 12, preanal 46 and total vertebrae 121 (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
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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): 3.7 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (19 of 100).