| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
47.3 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 220 - 475 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 180-185. This moderately elongate species of Ophichthus, subgenus Coecilophis is distinguished by the following characters: tail 59-60%, head 9.6-10.1% of total length and body depth at gill opening 3.2-3.7% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin above mid pectoral fin; elongate pectoral fin, non-filamentous; posterior margin or orbit in advance of rictus; posterior nostril a hole above upper lip is covered by a flap; no lip barbels; small but conspicuous head pores, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 2+5; small, conical teeth, biserial on anterior vomer and jaws; uniform gray brown in color, lighter ventrally, fins pale except anal which has a dark patch at posterior base; mean vertebral formula 15/66/182, total vertebrae 180-185 (Ref. 84366). |
| Biology: |
Benthic on fine sand or hard substrata with crevices (Ref. 58302). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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