| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
58.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine |
| Distribution: |
West Pacific: South China Sea (Pratas I., Dongsha Atoll). |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished by the following characters: eyes large typical of the O. megalops species group, but without a blackened anal-fin base in advance of the tail tip. It differs from its Indo-West Pacific congeners in having the following set of characters: eyes large (15.9% HL); snout short and blunt (22.0% HL); rictus slightly anterior of vertical through posterior margin of eye; dorsal-fin origin 2.2 times pectoral-fin length behind tip of pectoral fin; a knob present between nostrils; teeth biserial on upper jaw and uniserial on vomer and lower jaw; supraorbital pores 1+4 and preoperculo-mandibular pores 6+2; vertebral formula 20-59-177 . Colouration: body bicoloured, grey-brown dorsally and uniformly pale ventrally (Ref. 129533). |
| Biology: |
The Pratas Island, the only island of Dongsha Atoll, has large coral reefs surrounded by deep sea situated near the holotype’s collection site. Public attention is called to the possible damage that frequent fishery activity in the area might be causing to the environment and natural resources of Dongsha Atoll (Ref. 129533). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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