| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
36 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Somalia (Ref. 30573) and southern Africa to India and probably most other parts of the Indian Ocean. Found in New Guinea (Ref. 7050) and Tahiti (Ref. 12792). Record from the Mascarenes by Castle (1984, in distribution map, Ref. 7245) could not be verified; probably erroneous (Ref. 33390). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Vertebrae: 132-141. Dark above lateral line, lighter below with light spots (Ref. 3972). Elongate, more or less cylindrical, slightly compressed body, with a hard tail tip; sharply conical head; large mouth, reaching well behind eyes; teeth on jaws small, sharp, recurved; vomerine teeth larger; gill-openings a longitudinal slit beneath throat, with an extra fold of skin alongside; dorsal and anal fins very low; dorsal fin origin just behind gill-openings (Ref. 4832). |
| Biology: |
Found in estuaries and inshore areas of turbid waters (Ref. 30573). Occurs in rivers (Ref. 12792). Biology not known. Probably feeds on small sand-dwelling invertebrates. Caught mainly in (dol) nets and by hand. Marketed fresh. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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