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Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus, 1758) Serpent eel |
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photo by
El Aoussimi, A. |
| Family: | Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae | |||
| Max. size: | 250 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; brackish; marine; depth range - 300 m | |||
| Distribution: | Circumglobal: Atlantic (northern coast of Iberian peninsula to South Africa, also Madeira and western Mediterranean) and Indo-Pacific: southern Mozambique to South Africa; north to Japan, south to Australasia. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Body olive green to brown above, paler below; head pores black; young silvery (Ref. 3972). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabiting the continental shelf on sand or mud bottom (Ref. 4455). Buried with only its head exposed (Ref. 27121). Also found in estuaries (Ref. 9563). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 October 2011 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||