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Ophichthus macrochir (Bleeker, 1853) Bigfin snake eel |
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photo by
The Fish Database of Taiwan |
| Family: | Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae | |||
| Max. size: | 92 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 25 m | |||
| Distribution: | West Pacific; restricted. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Vertebrae: 214-221. This species is distinguished by the following : body strongly wrinkled; head length 5.0-6.7% TL; tail length 62.5-69.3% TL; with 2 protrusions along the upper lip; dorsal-fin origin approximately same vertical through pectoral-fin tip; supraorbital pores 1 + 4, preoperculomandibular pores 4-5 (usually 5) + 2; teeth on maxilla mostly uniserial, on the mandible biserial; teeth on vomer bi- or triserial; total vertebrae 214-221; mean vertebral formula, 11-70-217. Colouration: body uniformly black to dark brown; dorsal and anal fins are dark gray to black (Ref. 133101). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits sand and mud bottoms to 25 m (Ref. 90102). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 December 2019 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||