Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Xyrias: Greek, xyreo = that cuts like a knife (Ref. 45335); chioui: Named for Captain Jiun-Shiun Chiou, who captured and donated this and other important eel specimens to the laboratory of the National Taiwan Ocean University.
Eponymy: Captain Jiun-Shiun Chiou captured a number of eel specimens that he gave to the laboratory of the National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: McCosker, Chen & Chen.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic, usually 60 - 70 m (Ref. 82687). Subtropical; 24°N - 23°N
Pacific Ocean: Taiwan, Changbin, Taitang County (Ref. 82687).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 81.9 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 82687)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
A moderately elongate species of Xyrias with tail 47% and head 12% of TL; dorsal-fin origin well behind pectoral tips; pectoral fin spatulate, elongate, 5.9 in HL; snout short, 2.7 in jaw; upper jaw elongate, 2.6 in HL; center of eye in anterior 40% of upper jaw; labial cirri and barbels absent; eyes not elevated; head pores minute, supraorbital pores 1+3, infraorbital pores 4+3, preoperculomandibular pores 2+6; teeth numerous, conical, needle-like, biserial on maxilla and uniserial on mandible and vomer; coloration in preservative pale ventrally, becoming brown dorsally, pectoral fins brown, median fins with a thin dark margin. Vertebral formula 19/61/126 (Ref. 82687).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E., W.-L. Chen and H.-M. Chen, 2009. Comments on the snake-eel genus Xyrias (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 2289:61-67. (Ref. 82687)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00091 (0.00039 - 0.00215), b=2.99 (2.79 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (53 of 100).
