| Family: |
Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae |
| Max. size: |
60 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 3 - 400 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and western Bahamas to Venezuela. Eastern Atlantic: only one specimen from St. Helena Island (Ref. 4455). |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 137-145. This species is distinguished by the following characters: tail 1.8-1.9, head 14-19, and body depth 53-67 in total length; preopercular pores 3 and pores in supratemporal canal 3; conical teeth, uniserial on jaws and vomer; vomerine teeth 5-7; body coloration nearly uniform pale yellow to tan, fresh specimens have a fine sprinkling of melanophores which can take on a mottled or freckled appearance; two brown blotches behind the eye surround a pale patch about equal to eye; and MVF 62-142, total vertebrae 137-145 (n=14) (Ref. 101270). |
| Biology: |
Burrows in the sand on the continental shelf (Ref. 4455). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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