| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae |
| Max. size: |
45 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 250 - 1185 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Gulf of Aden and Natal, South Africa to the Philippines, Japan and Hawaii. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 87-94; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 69-75; Vertebrae: 53-55. This species is characterized by the following set of characters: a relatively long lateral line ending below dorsal fin rays 19-26; dorsal fin rays 87-94, anal fin rays 69-75, precaudal vertebrae 15-16, total vertebrae 53-55 and total number of rakers on anterior gill arch 15-17 (3 long and 12-14 plates); longest gill raker 2.2-2.7% SL and snout to end of lateral line 48.0-56% SL; interorbital pore 1 and occipital pores 4 (Ref. 83453). |
| Biology: |
Benthopelagic at bathyal depth (Ref. 56809). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Shallowest depth range at about 250 m (Ref. 95664). Rare species (Ref. 34024). Reproductive strategy possibly similar to other members of this family featuring oviparity, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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