Apterichtus anguiformis (Peters, 1877)
Slender finless eel
photo by Rabeling, D.

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  49.3 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 250 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mediterranean coast of Israel; from Utica Island, southern Tyrrhenian Sea;, from Madeira, the Canary and Cape Verde Islands; possibly from Angola.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 150-157. This species is distinguished by the following characters: tail 1.8-2.0 in TL; head 14-16 in TL; body depth 59-100 in TL; preopercular pores 3; supratemporal canal with 3 pores; conical teeth, uniserial on jaws and vomer; vomerine teeth 2-4; coloration reddish or brownish, tip of jaws black, belly whitish; sometimes a large number of small darker patches on back and upper side; MVF 73-154, total vertebrae 150-157(n=8). (Ref. 101270).
Biology:  Burrows in sand or mud on the continental shelf (Ref. 4455).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 October 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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