| Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| 37.45 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1 m |
| Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea (Israel). |
|
This species is distinguished by the following characters: tail length 66.4%, head length 6.6%, and body depth at gill opening 1.7% of total length; the dorsal-fin origin is well in advance of pectoral-fin base; elongate pectoral fin; posterior nostril a hole above the upper lip; a broad, succulent-leaf shaped flap near the anterior nostril; pores are small but conspicuous, SO 1 + 4, IO 4 + 2, POM 5 + 2, ST 3; teeth are small and conical, biserial on anterior part of upper jaw, biserial on lower jaw, a series of 6 vomerine teeth; colouration light brown, with numerous dark brown lines on head and pigment spots on upper half of body and dorsal and anal fins whitish; vertebral formula 5/64/193 (Ref. 103840). |
| This species is seined on shallow sand bottom, at 0.5-1 m. Apparently very rare, or rarely encountered by divers or snorkelers, possibly also due to its cryptic burying habits (Ref. 103840). |
|
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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