Ophichthus naevius Kodeeswaran, Kathirvelpandian, Mohapatra, Kumar & Sarkar, 2023

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  37.8 cm TL (male/unsexed); 31.6 cm TL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 25 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: Bay of Bengal, India.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 134-138. This moderately elongate species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: dorsal-fin origin just before pectoral-fin tip; pectoral fin rounded and longer than upper jaw; head 9.7%-10.8% TL; pre-anal length 40.0%-40.9% TL: tail 58.1%-60% TL; snout length 14.8%-18.3% HL; head pores: suprorbital 1 + 4, infraorbital 3 + 3, preopercular 3, mandibular 6; upper jaw no barbel; teeth uniserial small, conical, and pointed; intermaxillary with five teeth, 27-29 curved maxillary teeth on each side, 18 vomerine teeth in irregularly uniserial, 34 mandibular teeth; vertebrae: pre-dorsal 12-14; pre-anal 52-53; total 134-138. Colouration: dorsal body with numerous dense dark spots or patches, ventral body pale yellowish green, opercular mild yellow with no spots, and ventral portion of the lower jaw with distinct dark patches (Ref. 130619).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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