| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
57.4 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine; pH range: 7.5 - 8.19999980926514 |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Caudal ends in a hardened point. Ogivale head, small eyes near buccal joint at end of snout. Buccal slit short, snout prominent covered with villi. Gill slits lateroventral, crescentiform. Thin dorsal and anal fins, in groove; dorsal origin behind gill slits (predorsal length 11.5-16.9% TL); anal origin immediately behind anus. Pores of lateral system and cephalic slightly rimmed. One median pore on the supraorbital joint; 57-64 pores on lateral line before the anus. Vertebrae: 149-162. Dark brown back and dorsal base, whitish belly. |
| Biology: |
Mainly nocturnal. During the day, this fish lies buried in the sediment with the head out. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 October 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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