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Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Neobythitinae
Etymology: Bassozetus: Latin, bassus = thick, fat + Greek, ketos = marine mosnter, whale (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Smith & Radcliffe.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1035 - 4420 m (Ref. 75877), usually 1069 - 1922 m (Ref. 84269). Deep-water
Circumglobal: In tropical to temperate waters.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 64.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 84269)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 115 - 123; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 94 - 102; Vertebrae: 64. Snout inflated; eyes much smaller than snout; opercular spine weak or absent; preopercle without spines and posteriorly expanded almost reaching posterior margin of opercle; pseudobranchial filaments 2 (Ref. 34024).
Benthopelagic at bathyal depth (Ref. 56809). Found on the continental slope (Ref. 75154). Common species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). Of the 36 female specimens caught, 3 with 0.5-1.0 mm eggs. No identifiable stomach contents were found (Ref. 84269).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | 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: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 2.2 - 5.4, mean 3.4 °C (based on 3623 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00380 (0.00167 - 0.00864), b=3.14 (2.94 - 3.34), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±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 (51 of 100).