Many-vertebrae snake eel
📖 Overview
Many-vertebrae snake eel (Echelus polyspondylus), first described by McCosker & Ho, 2015 is a large fish in the family Ophichthidae (order Anguilliformes). Adults typically reach 56.70 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Subtropical waters. Diet is predominantly piscivorous, targeting other fish and larger prey.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Vertebrae: 172 - 183. This elongate species is distinguished by the following characters: tail 65-69%, head 7.6-8.3%, body depth at gill opening 1.8-2.3% of total length; tail tip flexible, the caudal-fin rays covered by skin, but confluent with dorsal and anal; dorsal-fin origin is nearly 1 head length behind gill opening; pectoral fin pointed, not elongate and well-developed; posterior nostril is within upper lip, opening into mouth; small pores, inconspicuous, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 6+3; teeth are small, numerous and conical, biserial on jaws, uniserial on vomer; body coloration tan dorsally, pale ventrally, fins are pale except anal-fin membrane which is black before tail tip; total vertebrae 172-183, mean vertebral formula 20-53-177 .: elongated; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Many-vertebrae snake eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated. Subtropical Northwest Pacific: Taiwan.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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