Teleostei (teleosts) > 
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) > 
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae						
							
							Etymology: Rhinophichthus: Greek, rhinos = nose + Greek, ophis = snake + Greek, ichthys = fish; penicillatus: From the sharpened-pencil like appearance of both ends of this eel.
More on author: McCosker.						
					
				
					Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range					
						Ecology					
				
				
				
					Marine;  demersal; depth range 435 - 435 m (Ref. 31795). Tropical				
				 
			
			
			
				
				
				
					Western Pacific:  New Caledonia.
				
				
			
			
				
					Size / Weight / Age
				
				
				
					Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
 Max length : 45.7 cm TL (female)				
				 
			
			
						
				
					Short description					
					Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics					
				
				
				
					Vertebrae: 173. Pale-colored, slightly darker dorsally; pale fins.  Large eyes.  Origin of dorsal fin behind pectoral tips.  Pectorals small and paddle-shaped.  Small teeth, conical and uniserial.  Mean vertebral formula 12-54-173.  Tail 66-67% of total length.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like; Cross section: circular.				
				 
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
							
			
			
			
			
				
					Life cycle and mating behavior					
					Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae				
				
				
				
								
				
			
			 
				
				
				
					McCosker, J.E., 1999. Pisces Anguilliformes: deepwater snake eels (Ophichthidae) from the New Caledonia region, Southwest Pacific Ocean. p. 571-588. In A. Crosnier (ed.) Résultats des Campagnes Musorstom, Volume 20. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle: 180. (Ref. 31795)
				
				 
			
			
			
							
					
						IUCN Red List Status   (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
					
					
				 
					
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				
					Threat to humans  
				
				
				
					  Harmless				
				
			 
			
			
			
			
				
					Human uses  				
				
				
									
				
				
			
			
						
			
			
			
				
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Special reports
 
				
			
			
			
				
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					Estimates based on models				
				
				
				
				
				
					
					Phylogenetic diversity index  (Ref. 
82804):  PD
50 = 1.0000   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].					
													Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00091 (0.00039 - 0.00215), b=2.99 (2.79 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 
93245).
					
					Trophic level  (Ref. 
69278):  3.7   ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives					
											
				
				
										
						Resilience  (Ref. 
120179):  High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).					
											
				
									
					Fishing Vulnerability  (Ref. 
59153):  Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100). 
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