Brachysomophis crocodilinus (Bennett, 1833)

Crocodile snake eel

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Anguilliformes \| Ophichthidae \| Ophichthinae
Synonyms	Ophisurus crocodilinus, Ophichthys crocodilinus, Achirophichthys typus, ... more
Common names	Reptilian snake eel, Crocodile snake-eel, 鳄形短体鳗, ... more

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Image of Brachysomophis crocodilinus (Crocodile snake eel)

Picture by Randall, J.E.

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This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

McCosker, J.E. and J.E. Randall. 2001. (Ref. 42180)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : McCosker, John | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 120 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)

Environment

Reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 30 m (Ref. 42180), usually 0 - 2 m (Ref. 42180)

Climate / Range

Tropical

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society Islands (but not the Hawaiian Archipelago), north to Japan, south to northern Australia.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Vertebrae: 116 - 124. Dorsal fin arising well behind pectoral tips; pectoral fins teardrop-shaped; snout very short; jaws elongate; anterior nostril in a very short tube in upper lip, closely followed by an ethmoidal pore, a barbel, and the posterior nostril which is in outer lip and entirely covered by a flap; labial cirri numerous, unbranched and slender in anterior half of lip of mandible, those posterior and along lower lip branched at tips; flesh above and behind eye laterally elevated as a ridge; dorsal head profile notably incised and medially constricted behind eyes, the flesh forming a narrow transverse ridge behind dorsal margin of eyes; head pores and lateral-line pores apparent; free sensory neuromasts visible as rows of small white spots on nape; teeth conical (Ref. 42180). Lateral-line pores and temporal pores typically in dark spots; smaller dark spots present irregularly on flank between lateral line and dorsal fin of larger specimens (Ref. 42180); brownish, lighter below and on fins (Ref. 3972). Eye small, colored like the head, and placed towards the front of the long mouth (Ref. 48635).

Generally found in shallow lagoon sand, rock and broken coral substrates at depths of 0-2 m (Ref. 42180). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Occurs in sandy bottoms from intertidal to over 12 m. Remains buried in sand with only the eyes protruding where it waits to ambush fish (Ref. 9710) and octopuses (Ref. 275). Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High vulnerability (56 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Capuli, Estelita Emily

Modified by Kesner-Reyes, Kathleen

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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