Ophichthus ophis, the spotted snake eel,[3] is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[4] It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally under the genus Muraena.[5] It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda and southern Florida, USA, Brazil, Lesser Antilles, Senegal, Angola, and the Mediterranean. It dwells at a depth range of 21 to 50 metres (69 to 164 ft), usually at around 50 m, and lives in burrows on a permanent basis. Males can reach a maximum total length of 210 centimeters (83 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 100 centimeters (39 in).[4]
| Ophichthus ophis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Ophichthus |
| Species: | O. ophis
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| Binomial name | |
| Ophichthus ophis (Linnaeus, 1758)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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The Spotted snake eel hunts nocturnally, and feeds primarily on octopuses and finfish, including Haemulon aurolineatum.[6] It is used as bait in subsistence fisheries, but is reported to cause ciguatera poisoning, and therefore is not usually used as a food source.[4]
References
edit- ^ McCosker, J. (2015). "Ophichthus ophis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T190160A1942508. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T190160A1942508.en. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Bailly, Nicolas (2008). "Ophichthus ophis (Linnaeus, 1758)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Common names of Ophichthus ophis at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Ophichthus ophis". FishBase.
- ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 244.
- ^ Food and Feeding Habits Summary for Ophichthus ophis at www.fishbase.org.
External links
edit- Photos of Ophichthus ophis on Sealife Collection
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