Manetail Snake Eel, Ophichthus urolophus (Temminck & Schlegel 1847)

Summary:

A tan snake eel with a pale underside, pale fins and anterior nostrils, and a dusky chin and snout.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2019, Ophichthus urolophus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2905

Manetail Snake Eel, Ophichthus urolophus (Temminck & Schlegel 1847)

More Info

Distribution	Southwest of Imperieuse Reef to south of Scott Reef, Western Australia. Elsewhere the species occurs in Japan and Indonesia, generally at depths of 40-420 m.
Features	Vertebrae 134-139. Distinguishing characteristics: tail 53-58%, head 11-13% of total length and depth at gill opening 4.0-4.8% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin slightly behind pectoral-tips; pectoral fins spatulate, non-elongate and slightly less than length; large eyes, posterior margin of orbit ahead of rictus; posterior nostril a hole in upper lip and covered by a flap; small, inconspicuous head pores, SO 1+3, IO 4+2, POM 2-3+6-7 (usually 3+7); small, conical teeth, uniserial on mandible and vomer, few anterior teeth on maxillary.
Species Citation	Conger urolophus Temminck & Schlegel 1847, Fauna Japonica Vol. 4(14, 15): 260, pl.114 (fig.1). Type locality: Japan.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2019
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Manetail Snake Eel, Ophichthus urolophus (Temminck & Schlegel 1847)

References

Bauchot, M.-L., Whitehead, P.J.P. & Monod, Th. 1982. Date of publication and authorship of the fish names in Eydoux & Souleyet's zoology of la Bonite, 1841–1852. Bulletin de la Société Française d'Ichtyologie Cybium 3e série 6(no. 3): 59-73

McCosker, J.E. 1977. The osteology, classification, and relationships of the eel family Ophichthidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 41(1): 1-123 figs 1-45

McCosker, J.E. 2010. Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species. Zootaxa 2505: 1-39

Temminck, C.J. & Schlegel, H. 1847. Pisces. 248-289 pls 111-128, 129 (in part) in Siebold, P. Fr de (ed.) Fauna Japonica. Leyden : Apud Arnz & Socios Vol. 4(14, 15).