Ophichthus ophis
| Ophichthus ophis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Ophichthus |
| Species: | O. ophis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ophichthus ophis (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
The Spotted snake eel[2] (Ophichthus ophis) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally under the genus Muraena.[4] 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 centimetres (83 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 100 centimetres (39 in).[3]
The Spotted snake eel hunts nocturnally, and feeds primarily on octopuses and finfish, including Haemulon aurolineatum.[5] 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.[3]
References
- ↑ Synonyms of Ophichthus ophis at www.fishbase.org.
- ↑ Common names of Ophichthus ophis at www.fishbase.org.
- 1 2 3 Ophichthus ophis at www.fishbase.org.
- ↑ Linnaeus, C., 1758 (1 Jan.) [ref. 2787] Systema Naturae, Ed. X. (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) Holmiae. v. 1: i-ii + 1-824.
- ↑ Food and Feeding Habits Summary for Ophichthus ophis at www.fishbase.org.