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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) > Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 2 - 20 m (Ref. 89972). Tropical, preferred ?

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-Pacific.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 120 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 89972)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Vertebrae: 177 - 179. Color tan to brown; larger specimens becoming darker above lateral midline and its median fins with black margin; pectoral fins dark; those of smaller specimens may be clear. A prominent pale spot before eye and a smaller pale spot on snout above anterior nostril. Barbels prominent along ventral margin of upper lip; one beneath the anterior margin of the eye, the other midway between it and the base of the anterior nostril. Dorsal fin elevated , its origin just above or slightly in advance of gill openings. Pectoral fins elongate, 2.4-2.8 HL.

A benthic (Ref. 75154) and burrowing species which occurs over soft bottoms of inshore waters (Ref. 7300, 75154). Feeds on cephalopodes, crustaceans and small fishes (Ref. 89972). Solitary in sand, often with head protruding (Ref 90102).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : McCosker, John | Collaborators

McCosker, J.E. and J.E. Randall, 2002. Ophichthys melanochir Bleeker, 1865, a junior synonym of the highfin snake eel Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup, 1856). Copeia 2002(3):798-799. (Ref. 43769)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

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More information

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Common names
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Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
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Internet sources

Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup, 1856)