Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Brachysomophis: Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, soma = body + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335); porphyreus: Named for its purplish (= porphyreus) coloration when alive.
More on authors: Temminck & Schlegel.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 20 m (Ref. 42180). Temperate
Northwest Pacific: Taiwan and the southern coasts of China and Japan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 130 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 42180)
Vertebrae: 137 - 148. This species is distinguished by the following characters: tail 52% and head 11-14% of TL; body cylindrical for most of its length; dorsal fin arising well behind pectoral-fin tips; pectoral fins moderately elongate, about 3-6 times in HL; snout moderate; about 3.0 in jaw; jaws elongate, about 2.1-3.0 in head; lower jaw extending beyond snout tip; nostrils in very short tubes in upper lip and closely associated; cirri of labial fringe minute on lips of subadults, absent in large adults; center of eye behind anterior 30% of jaw; interorbital space narrow, less than orbit width; dorsal head profile nearly flat from level of midjaw to snout tip; nape and cheeks swollen, narrowing anteriorly from level of midjaw; cephalic pores inconspicuous; free sensory neuromasts not visible on nape; teeth conical; purplish brown when alive; lateral-line and cephalic pores (except mandibular) surrounded by fine dark punctations.
Observed nearly fully buried within a muddy bottom at a depth of 20 m (Ref. 42180).
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 2024-2)
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): 4.1 ±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): Very high vulnerability (78 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 26.2 [15.9, 48.5] mg/100g; Iron = 0.312 [0.176, 0.516] mg/100g; Protein = 18.4 [16.2, 20.9] %; Omega3 = 0.377 [0.166, 0.955] g/100g; Selenium = 14.6 [7.5, 29.9] μg/100g; VitaminA = 7.3 [1.9, 28.9] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.434 [0.313, 0.600] mg/100g (wet weight);
