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Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Brachysomophis: Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, soma = body + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335); cirrocheilos: From apparently a combination of Latin ('cirrus' = tendril) and Greek ('cheilos' = lip).
More on author: Bleeker.
Entorno: milieu / zona climática / rango de profundidad / gama de distribución
Ecología
marino; salobre asociado a arrecife; rango de profundidad 1 - 38 m (Ref. 42180). Tropical; 39°N - 20°S, 35°E - 148°E (Ref. 42180)
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, Taiwan south to Indonesia and Australia.
Tamaño / Peso / Edad
Madurez: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 159 cm TL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 42180)
Vértebra: 135 - 140. Coloration pale, overlain dorsally and along flanks with irregular brown smudges. A moderately elongate species with tail 51-58% and head 11-14% of TL; dorsal fin arising well behind pectoral-fin tips; pectoral fins not elongate; snout moderate, about 3.2 in jaw; jaws elongate; lower jaw extending beyond snout; nostrils in very short tubes in upper lip and closely associated; labial fringe well-developed but cirri not elongate on jaws, with cauliflower-like projections at tips; center of eye behind anterior 40% of jaw; interorbital space and top of head flat, dorsal head profile nearly flat from mid-head to snout tip; head pores inconspicuous; free sensory neuromasts not visible on nape; teeth conical. Numerous prominent barbels on both lips; outer row of maxillary teeth not visible when are closed (Ref 42180).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like; Cross section: circular.
Most commonly found in sand and mud, near coastal reefs at depths of 1 up to at least 10 m. Burrows into the sand tail-first until only its eyes and the top of its snout are visible. Sometimes seen with only its head or snout protruding from the sand. More commonly encountered at night but also seen with its head protruding out of the substrate during the day. Observed with cleaner shrimp Periclimenes magnificus on its head. The shrimp would swim off for short periods and then return to this species (Ref. 42180). Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 2334).
Ciclo vital y comportamiento de apareamiento
Madurez | Reproducción | Puesta | Huevos | Fecundidad | Larva
McCosker, J.E. and J.E. Randall, 2001. Revision of the snake-eel genus Brachysomophis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with description of two new species and comments on the species of Mystriophis. Indo-Pac. Fish. (33):1-32. (Ref. 42180)
Situación en la Lista Roja de la UICN (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Amenaza para el ser humano
Harmless
Usos humanos
Pesquerías: pesquerías de subsistencia
Herramientas
Informes especiales
Descargar XML
Fuentes de Internet
Estimaciones basadas en modelos
Temperatura preferida (Referencia
123201): 25 - 29, mean 27.9 °C (based on 520 cells).
Índice de diversidad filogenética (Referencia
82804): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00093 (0.00041 - 0.00214), b=2.99 (2.79 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Nivel trófico (Referencia
69278): 4.0 ±0.66 se; based on food items.
Resiliencia (Referencia
120179): Bajo, población duplicada en un tiempo mínimo de 4.5-14 años (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerabilidad pesquera (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
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