Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus, 1758)
Serpent eel
Serpente di mare,  'Mpastura vacchi,  'Mpasturavacchi,  Coloru de mari,  Seppi 'i mari,  Serpa,  Serpi,  Serpi 'mperiali,  Serpi longa,  Serpi ranni,  Vipera 'e mare,  Vipera di mare
Ophisurus serpens
photo by El Aoussimi, A.

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  250 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range - 300 m
Distribution:  Circumglobal: Atlantic (northern coast of Iberian peninsula to South Africa, also Madeira and western Mediterranean) and Indo-Pacific: southern Mozambique to South Africa; north to Japan, south to Australasia.
Diagnosis:  Body olive green to brown above, paler below; head pores black; young silvery (Ref. 3972).
Biology:  Inhabiting the continental shelf on sand or mud bottom (Ref. 4455). Buried with only its head exposed (Ref. 27121). Also found in estuaries (Ref. 9563).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 October 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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