| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae |
| Max. size: |
26 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 344 - 1700 m |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: off Table Bay and east coast of South Africa; also from other parts of the Indian Ocean. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 102-115; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 82-95. Snout rather blunt; eye diameter almost as long as snout; opercular spine strong and straight; hind margin of preopercle usually with 3 sharp spines; 1 median (broad) and a pair (small and placed behind median one) of basibranchial tooth patches; pseudobranchial filaments 2 or 3; 7-15 developed rakers on anterior arch; lower 5-11 pectoral fin rays free and longer than upper ones; precaudal vertebrae 13-16 (Ref. 34024). No black fin rays; spines in supraorbital absent and on preopercle absent or weak (Ref. 34024). |
| Biology: |
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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