Turret snake eel

📖 Overview

Turret snake eel (Brachysomophis umbonis), first described by McCosker & Randall, 2001 is a small fish in the family Ophichthidae (order Anguilliformes). Adults typically reach 13.90 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 14 to 18 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Data Deficient.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Vertebrae: 103 - 104. Stout with tail 50-51% and head 15.5% of TL; dorsal-fin origin well behind pectoral tips; pectoral fins minute, slightly broader than long; snout short, about 3.2-4.0 in jaw; center of eye in anterior third of upper jaw; cirri of maxillary labia minute, those of lower jaw few, short and stout; interorbital space and top of head flat, dorsal head profile incised and medially constricted behind eyes; a lateral-projecting rounded protuberance about equal to orbit situated behind and beneath orbit; head pores distinct; teeth conical; preserved specimens yellowish, pale ventrally in head and trunk region, overlain behind nape with dense, fine brown speckling and an orange U-shaped band from gill opening to midhead and meeting across dorsal surface; .: eel-like; Cross section: circular.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Turret snake eel is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 14 - 18 m . Tropical West Pacific: Indonesia and the Philippines.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

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