Dark deepwater snake eel
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The dark deepwater snake eel[1] (Ophichthus aphotistos) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae.[2] It was described by John E. McCosker and Chen Yu-Yun in 2000.[3] It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from Taiwan, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 36–1350 m (most commonly 250–350 m), and inhabits sand and mud. Specimens have been observed in burrows with only their heads exposed, or resting on sediment with their bodies curved in an S shape. Females can reach a maximum total length of 62.8 cm.[2]
| Dark deepwater snake eel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Ophichthus |
| Species: | O. aphotistos |
| Binomial name | |
| Ophichthus aphotistos J. E. McCosker & Y. Y. Chen, 2000 | |
The specific epithet aphotistos, meaning dark or obscure, refers both to the eel's appearance and its habitat.[2]
