Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); pratasensis: Named after Pratas Island, an adjective,.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Tropical
Distribution
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
West Pacific: South China Sea (Pratas I., Dongsha Atoll).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 58.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 129533)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
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).
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ho, H.-C., S.-L. Ng and T.-Y. Lin, 2022. Description of a new Ophichthus eel from Dongsha Atoll, South China Sea, and a range extension of Ophichthus kusanagi Hibino, McCosker & Tashiro, 2019. Raff. Bull. Zool. 70:312-319. (Ref. 129533)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100).