Chilka lake's snake eel
📖 Overview
Chilka lake's snake eel (Ophichthus chilkensis), first described by Chaudhuri, 1916 is a large fish in the family Ophichthidae (order Anguilliformes). Adults typically reach 88.50 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 25 to 30 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. Diet is predominantly piscivorous, targeting other fish and larger prey.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Vertebrae: 218 - 222. This species is characterized by the following: body extremely elongated, subcircular posteriorly following the compressed tail portion, tail tip pointed and strong; depth at gill opening 74.3-92.8 in TL; pre-anal length 2.8-2.9 in TL, HL 18.3-20.4, tail 1.6; snout short, tip conical at dorsal view, ventral side not bisected by a groove; upper jaw moderate, rictus well behind posterior of eye orbit margin, eye moderate, at mid jaw, its length 11.8-16.7 in HL, 3.6-5.6 in upper jaw length; anterior nostril tubular, positioned toward ventrolaterally; posterior nostril a minute hole; single barbel on upper lip; dorsal-fin origin well behind pectoral-fin tip; pectoral fin short, tip rounded; shorter than jaw; its length 3.6-3.9 in HL; head pores are moderately conspicuous; a single median T and IO pores present; SO pores 1 + 4, first ethmoidal and three pores on snout dorsal surface and a pore between the interorbital space; IO pores 3 + 3, first located in middle of nostrils, second below the mid-eye, third and fourth behind eye orbit and 2 at ascendingly behind the eye; mandibular pores 5 and PO pores 2; LL pores conspicuous before anus; LL pores before gill opening 7-8, before dorsal-fin origin 13-14, before anus 71-74; teeth on jaw multiseries, small, pointed, and conical; intermaxillary with four teeth arranged in row; vomerine 2-3 rows anteriorly, three uniserial teeth posteriorly, extended beyond maxillary teeth row; maxillary and mandibular biserial, teeth size decreases posteriorly; vertebrae: pre-dorsal 12-13; pre-anal 72-73 and total 218-222 .Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Chilka lake's snake eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 25 - 30 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Bay of Bengal.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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