Scolecenchelys chilensis (McCosker, 1970)
Chilean worm eel

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Myrophinae
Max. size:  28.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 3 - 35 m
Distribution:  Southeast Pacific: Desventuradas Is. and Juan Fernández Is.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 148-152. This species of the Scolecenchelys gymnota species group is distinguished by the following set of characters: head 8.9-9.7 % TL; tail 53-56 % TL; trunk 36-38 % TL; body depth 1.9-2.2 % TL; horizontal distance between dorsal-fin origin and a vertical through mid-anus 38-60 % ; with a prominent median groove, ventral on snout; teeth on jaws and vomerine in a single row; predorsal vertebrae 66-68, preanal 62-64, and total vertebrae148-152; MVF 67-62-150 (Ref. 104540).
Biology:  Lives in shallow waters, on sand and debris between rocks and crevices (Ref. 89357, 104540).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 26 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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