Common names from other countries
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Neobythitinae
Etymology: Hoplobrotula: Greek, hoplon = weapon + Latin, brotula, -ae = little, bud, shoot (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Regan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 180 - 550 m (Ref. 4103). Deep-water
Western Indian Ocean: Natal, South Africa and a few localities somewhat to the north.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4103)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 99 - 103; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 78 - 82. Rather elongate body with blunt head; eye almost as long as snout; upper jaws ends well behind eye; 3 sharp spines on preopercle and 1strong opercular spine; 1 median and a pair of basibranchial tooth patches; 5-6 developed rakers on anterior gill arch; pelvic fins inserted beneath eye; precaudal vertebrae 15 (Ref. 34024). Snout spine absent (Ref. 34024). Greenish or pinkish in color (Ref. 4103).
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
CITES (Ref. 128078)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
115969): 12.4 - 16.5, mean 15.3 (based on 13 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00380 (0.00165 - 0.00876), b=3.14 (2.93 - 3.35), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±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): Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100).