Caecula pterygera Vahl, 1794
Finny snake eel

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: southern India and probably most other parts of the Indian Ocean.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 126-130. Body elongate, more or less cylindrical, slightly compressed, with a hard tail; sharply conical head; anterior nostril a downwardly facing tube near tip of snout, posterior nostril an inconspicuous slit in upper lip, guarded by a papilla; eyes very small, inconspicuous; mouth large, extending well behind eye; small, sharp, more or less uniserial teeth; gill opening a longitudinal slit beneath throat with an extra fold of skin alongside; dorsal fin origin over gill-opening; very poorly developed dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 4832).
Biology:  Inhabits estuaries and inshore areas of turbid waters. Marketed fresh and used mainly for bait.
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 04 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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