Ophiocara porocephala (Valenciennes 1837)

Summary:

Overall dark grey to black sometimes becoming greyish on the side, with 4-5 interrupted pale brown to whitish bands along the side.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2022, Ophiocara porocephala in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5686

Ophiocara porocephala (Valenciennes 1837)

More Info

Distribution	Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the Indian ocean from South Africa and Mozambique to Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Andaman Islands and the Indian ocean coast of the Sunda Islands and Sumatra (Indonesia). Inhabits sandy, muddy and gravel areas in the lower parts of rivers and ponds, from the tidal influence to 15 m altitude. Individuals usually shelter among vegetation or under stones, roots and leaf litter.
Features	Dorsal fin VI, I,8; Anal fin I,7; Caudal fin 14-15 branched rays; Pectoral fin 15; Pelvic fin I,5, separate; Lateral scales 35-37; Predorsal scales 21-24; zigzag scales 9-10; jaw length 14-16% SL; dorsal fin without filamentous rays; caudal fin rounded.
Species Citation	Eleotris porocephala Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1837, Histoire Naturelle des Poissons Vol. 12: 237. Type locality: Seychelles Islands.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2022
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Ophiocara porocephala (Valenciennes 1837)

References

Keith, P. & Mennesson, M.I. 2021. Review of Ophiocara (Teleostei: Butidae) from Indo-Pacific Islands. Cybium 45(2): 89-108. https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2021-452-002

Valenciennes, A. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1837. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 12 507 pp. pls 344-368. See ref at BHL