Snakefish

📖 Overview

Snakefish (Trachinocephalus myops) is a ray-finned fish. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 32.6 cm. It occurs at depths between 0 and 400 metres. With a trophic level of 4.4, it is an apex predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: snout length (LSn) 53.2-117.0% eye diameter (DE), mean 79.1% (vs. mean 40.1% in T. gauguini and 74.8% in T. trachinus); LSn 13.5-27.0% body depth (DB), mean 21.6 (vs. mean 14.7% in T. gauguini); interorbital width 3.4-11.9%, mean 8.9% LH (vs. mean 5.6% in T. gauguini); DE 10.8-21.7% LH, mean 15.7% (vs. mean 16·6% in T. trachinus); length of the last dorsal-fin ray 7.3-11.6% LS, mean 9·4% (vs. mean 10.1% in T. trachinus and 10.8% in T. gauguini); anal-fin rays 13-16, mode 15 (vs. mode 14 in T. gauguini and 16 in T. trachinus); pectoral-fin rays 11-13, mode 12 (vs. mode 11 in T. gauguini); lateral-line scales 53-60, mode 57 (vs. mode 56 in T. gauguini); predorsal scales 15-20, mode 17 (vs. mode 16 in T. trachinus); further differs from T. gauguini and T. trachinus by deep mitochondrial distances (16.9-17.6 and 15.1-17.8%, respectively) .Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Snakefish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Snakefish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Snakefish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 400 m , usually 3 - 90 m . Tropical; 40°N - 40°S, 76°W - 154°W Atlantic Ocean: Western Atlantic Ocean from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Brazil, including Bermuda, Bahamas, Antilles and Gulf of Mexico).

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

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