Ophichthus macrochir (Bleeker, 1853)
Bigfin snake eel
Ophichthus macrochir
photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  92 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 25 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 221-221. Description: Characterized by uniform brown to black overall color, pale below lateral midline; median fins, dark; HL 17 in TL; body extremely elongate, depth at gill opening 42-59 in TL; tail 1.4-1.6 in TL; vertebrae 221; origin of dorsal fin just above or behind pectoral fin tips; moderately developed pectoral fin, rounded; tail tapering to hard, finless point; small prominent barbel between anterior and posterior nostril; lips and mouth with numerous papillae; stout teeth, minute, conical, uniserial on jaw and biserial in vomer; 3-4 intermaxillary teeth, not in typical chevron (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits sand and mud bottoms to 25 m (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.