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Ophichthus puncticeps (Kaup, 1859) Palespotted eel |
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photo by
Flescher, D. |
| Family: | Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae | |||
| Max. size: | 81 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 150 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and northeast Gulf of Mexico to Brazil; absent from the Bahamas and most islands of the Caribbean. | |||
| Diagnosis: | ||||
| Biology: | Occurs from shore to deep waters, but rare in shallow water (Ref. 7251). On the continental shelf of South America, this species is said to be common between 5 and 40 m depths (Ref. 5217). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2011 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | reports of ciguatera poisoning | |||