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🌊 Marine 🌡️ Tropical

Olivaceous snake eel

Ophichthus olivaceus McCosker & Bogorodsky, 2020
Max Length
75.6 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
4
Depth
35–63 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone

📖 Overview

Known from the holotype and paratype, trawled from a soft substratum from 35-63 m depth off The largest known specimen is 75.6 cm TL ripe female with packed ovaries, with ova ca. 1 mm in diameter .

Scientific Name
Ophichthus olivaceus
Authority
McCosker & Bogorodsky, 2020
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Max Length
75.6 cm
Depth Range
35–63 m
Trophic Level
4
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Vertebrae: 141 - 145. This speies is distinguished by the following characters: moderately elongate species, tail length 46.3-46.4%, head length 9.0-10.4%, and body depth at gill opening 3.6-4.2% of total length; dorsal-fin origin is above the middle of pectoral fin; pectoral fin rounded, elongate and well-developed; posterior nostril within upper lip, not visible externally; upper lip with two minute barbels, the first between anterior and posterior nostrils, the second beneath mid orbit; pores distinct, supraorbital pores 1 + 4, infraorbital pores 4 + 2, preopercular pores 5 + 3; teeth small, conical, uniserial on vomer and jaws; total vertebrae 141-145, mean vertebral formula 12-67.5-143. Colouration: dark tan with olivaceous hue dorsally and laterally, tan ventrally on tail and pale yellow ventrally on trunk; above pectoral-fin base are two pale yellow smudges; snout and lower jaw dark brown; throat pale orange-yellow, preopercle pale yellow and postorbital area pale yellow with numerous dark brown dots; dorsal fin and anal fins olivaceous; tip of tail dark red .Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Olivaceous snake eel is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Olivaceous snake eel is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Olivaceous snake eel is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 35 - 63 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Red Sea, southern Saudi Arabia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine
Trophic Level
4±0.7

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00093 × L2.99 (TL)
Max TL
75.6cm
Vertebrae
143

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
44.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
4
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
McCosker & Bogorodsky, 2020

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