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Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Brachysomophis: Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, soma = body + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335); atlanticus: Named for its location of capture.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Tropical
Eastern Atlantic: off Senegal and Gulf of Guinea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 27.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4455)
Vertebrae: 114 - 117. A slender species with tail 48-50% and head 13-15% of TL; dorsal fin arising above gill openings; pectoral fins slender, not elongate, about 6.2-6.5 times in HL; snout short, about 3.6 in jaw; jaws elongate, about 2.6 in head; nostrils in short tubes in upper lip and closely associated; labial fringe present but poorly developed on both jaws; center of eye behind anterior 1/3 of jaw; interorbital space and top of head flat; head pores apparent; free sensory neuromasts not visible on nape; teeth conical, largest in ethmoidal region of intermaxilla, followed by 6 linear vomerine teeth; maxillary teeth biserial, teeth of inner row larger but the row shorter in length; mandibular teeth uniserial and small, largest anteriorly (Ref. 42180).
Burrows in sand and mud on the continental shelf (Ref. 4455).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McCosker, J.E. and J.E. Randall, 2001. Revision of the snake-eel genus Brachysomophis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with description of two new species and comments on the species of Mystriophis. Indo-Pac. Fish. (33):1-32. (Ref. 42180)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5078 [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).