Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Carapidae (Pearlfishes) > Carapinae
Etymology: Onuxodon: Greek, onyx, -ychos = nail + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Smith.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 58302). Tropical
Indo-Pacific: South Africa to Hawaii.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 11228)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 43 - 50; Anal soft rays: 46 - 51; Vertebrae: 90. Eel-like, shallow to moderate body depth; adults small, less than 100 mm, trunk compressed; 1 to several large symphyseal fangs on premaxilla and dentary; anterior swim bladder modified into 'rockerbone'; predorsal bone present; pectoral fin rays supported by numerous small distal radials (Ref. 34024). Precaudal vertebrae 19-22; relatively long and slender (Ref. 34024). Translucent body and pink sheen; posterior part of tail and ventral part of body dusky (Ref. 11228).
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Inhabits pearl shells, rock oysters, and clams. Feeds on crustaceans and polychaetes (Ref. 11228). Reported to tend towards sexual pairing in the host (Ref. 37816).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 23.2 - 29.2, mean 27.9 °C (based on 2328 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00102 (0.00046 - 0.00225), b=3.06 (2.88 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.39 se; based on food items.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).