Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Ophichthus: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); mecopterus: Name from 2 Greek words meaning long and fin, referring to its elongate pectorals.
More on authors: McCosker & Rosenblatt.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 24 - 79 m (Ref. 31243). Tropical
Eastern Central Pacific: Mexico to Costa Rica.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 27.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 31243)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E. and R.H. Rosenblatt, 1998. A revision of the Eastern Pacific snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of six new species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50(19):397-432. (Ref. 31243)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 17.9 - 26.1, mean 23.4 °C (based on 15 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): 3.7 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (17 of 100).