Biology:Ophichthus ophis
| 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)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Ophichthus ophis, the spotted snake eel,[2] 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, United States , 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).[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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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.
External links
- Photos of Ophichthus ophis on Sealife Collection
Wikidata ☰ Q4851270 entry
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