Ophichthus rufus (Rafinesque, 1810)
Rufus snake-eel
Ophichthus rufus
photo by García Rodríguez, M.

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  60 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 90 - 130 m
Distribution:  Endemic to the Mediterranean.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Found on the shelf, on mud bottoms (Ref. 3397). A nocturnally-active species (Ref. 48389). Buries itself in the mud during the day, emerging only to feed at night (Ref. 48389).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 May 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.