Classification / Names
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Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Neobythitinae
Etymology: Bassozetus: Latin, bassus = thick, fat + Greek, ketos = marine mosnter, whale (Ref. 45335); werneri: Named for Werner Schwarzhans, Hamburg.
Eponymy: Dr Werner Wilhelm Schwarzhans is a retired German oil geologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Nielsen & Merrett.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range ? - 1862 m (Ref. 84269). Deep-water
Western Central Pacific: south of New Caledonia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 37.5 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished by the following characters: elongated and compressed body; rounded snout, slightly protruding over tips of jaws; fully scaled head, body scales larger than those on head with 20 in an oblique row; no basibranchial tooth patches; dentigerous vomer a minute, circular plate; sagittal otolith with distinct pointed process at the anterior end; 29 pectoral fin-rays; ventral fins almost reaching anus, 17.5% SL); 10 long gill rakers on anterior arch; chocolate brown coloration (Ref. 84269).
Known only from the holotype, a semi-ripe, female caught at continental slope depth. Stomach and intestine remains indicate that the species feeds on or close to the bottom (remains of crustaceans: 7 amphipods (10 - 40 mm in length) and 1 isopod ca. 10 mm in length (Ref. 84269). Reproductive strategy possibly similar to other members of this family featuring oviparity, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nielsen, J.G. and N.R. Merrett, 2000. Revision of the cosmopolitan deep-sea genus Bassozetus (Pisces: Ophidiidae) with two new species. Galathea Report 18:7-56. (Ref. 84269)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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