Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55073)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished with the following set of characters: HL 8.8–10.9% TL; tail length 59.3-64.4% TL, relatively broad and tapering slowly; snout is relatively acute, its length 17.3-21.0% HL; preopercular pores 3; teeth on upper jaw uniserial, teeth on vomer generally uniserial; dorsal-fin origin is usually just above or posterior to a vertical through pectoral-fin insertion; anterior dorsal-fin membrane has a distinct dark blotch; cephalic sensory pores margined dark brown, with additional black pit rows on snout, cheek and lower jaw; body with obscure distorted bars (alive and preserved), but sometime faded (less in young specimens); predorsal 10-14 and preanal lateral-line pores 59-64; pectoral-fin rays 14-16; predorsal 11-13, preanal 61-63 and total vertebrae 177-184; mean vertebral formula 12-62-181 (Ref. 132095).
Cross section: oval.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hibino, Y. and J.E. McCosker, 2020. Resurrection of Ophichthus zophistius (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with a revised diagnosis of O. altipennis. Zootaxa 4801(2):328-342. (Ref. 132095)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±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): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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