Antillian snake eel
Appearance
Antillian snake eel | |
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Species: | O. spinicauda
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Binomial name | |
Ophichthus spinicauda (Norman, 1922)
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The Antillian snake eel (Ophichthus spinicauda, also known commonly as the Spinefin snake eel or the Banded snake eel[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by John Roxborough Norman in 1922.[4] It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the western central Atlantic Ocean, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela. It is known to dwell at a maximum depth of 300 metres, and inhabits coastal waters. Males can reach a maximum total length of 107 centimetres, but more commonly reach a TL of 70 cm.[3]
The Antillian snake eel is of minor commercial interest to fisheries.[3]
References
- ^ Synonyms of Ophichthus spinicauda at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Common names for Ophichthus spinicauda at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b c Ophichthus spinicauda at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Norman, J. R., 1922 (1 Sept.) [ref. 3211] A new eel from Tobago. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 9) v. 10 (no. 57): 296-297.