Gnathophis ajithi
Gnathophis ajithi Kodeeswaran & Karmovskaya, 2025


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Family:  Congridae (Conger and garden eels), subfamily: Congrinae
Max. size:  48.4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 264 - 450 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: India.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 122-126. This moderate size species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: elevated pores above the adpressed pectoral fin; small eye, 15.7-17.7% HL; lateral-line pores before anus 27-33; total vertebrae 124 (122-126); vertebrae formula: 8-10/28-34/33-38/122-126; stomach grey to black (Ref. 138427). Description: Colouration when alive: body dorsally olive-greenish, belly silvery-white; bright silvery band runs parallel to and below the lateral-line pores after anus, and which becomes pale brownish posteriorly; melanophores, pigment traces of leptocephalus, on ventral side of body from gill opening to tail tip, dense, tapering posteriorly; dorsal and anal fins are milky white with dark margin; caudal fin dark and tail tip white; pectoral fin translucent with greenish to dark patches at the base and dorsal margin; head slightly darker than body; snout tip lime green, then a little darker; back of the head brownish-dark, supratemporal commissure lighter; stomach grey to black and peritoneum slivery; dorsal and ventral of lateral-line pores are whitish; gill-opening white; eyes bright with dark pupil surrounded by golden iris (Ref. 138427).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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