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Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Ophidiinae
Etymology: Ophidion: Diminutive of Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335); puck: Name from Shakepeare's Midsummers Night's Dream character Puck, a tricky fairy in the service of King Oberon; noun in apposition.
Eponymy: Puck is a fairy in the service of Oberon (see Shakespeare’s: A Midsummers Night’s Dream), one of three Shakespearean names coined in the same paper (see O. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Lea & Robins.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 348 - 384 m (Ref. 81834). Tropical
Western Atlantic: Mexico and near Cay Sal Bank, Bahamas.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81834)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 129 - 130; Anal soft rays: 100 - 101; Vertebrae: 70. This species possess the following diagnostic characters: D 129-130; A 100-101; pectoral-fin rays 21-22; vertebrae, precaudal 17-18, caudal 52- 53, total 70; gill rakers on first arch 6, 2 rudiments on upper arm, 4 short, developed essentially equal rakers on lower arm (Ref. 81834).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lea, R.N. and C.R. Robins, 2003. Four new species of the genus Ophidion (Pisces: Ophidiidae) from the western Atlantic Ocean. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Scientific Papers No. 31:1-9. (Ref. 81834)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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