Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Callechelys: Greek, kalos, kallos = beautiful + Greek, enchelys, -yos = eel (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Schneider.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 32 m (Ref. 27478). Tropical; 32°N - 32°S
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 85.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1602)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Found in shallow areas buried in loose gravel and sand (Ref. 1602, 75154). Benthic (Ref. 58302, 75154). It buries itself with the aid of its pointed snout or its bony, sharp tail.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E., 1998. A revision of the snake-eel genus Callechelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of two new Indo-Pacific species and a new Callechelyin genus. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50(7):185-215. (Ref. 27478)
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): 24.7 - 29.2, mean 28.1 °C (based on 2507 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [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 (54 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 36.2 [20.2, 63.7] mg/100g; Iron = 0.496 [0.300, 1.016] mg/100g; Protein = 18.8 [16.6, 21.4] %; Omega3 = 0.102 [0.047, 0.287] g/100g; Selenium = 42 [24, 83] μg/100g; VitaminA = 48.4 [14.4, 144.2] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.929 [0.671, 1.288] mg/100g (wet weight);