Ophichthus sangjuensis (Ji & Kim, 2011)
Korean Snake eel
Ophichthus sangjuensis
photo by Kim, J.-K.

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  60.1 cm TL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 5 - 110 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: South Sea, Korea.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 143-153. This species is characterized by the following: origin of dorsal-fin above middle of the pectoral fin; rounded pectoral fin, not elongated, 2.6-3.5 times in head length (HL); slightly acute snout, 4.9-6.5 times in HL; upper jaw slightly longer than lower jaw, 3.4-3.7 times in HL; fleshy protrusions present before and behind the posterior nostril; minute and inconspicuous cephalic-sensory pores; supraorbital pores 1+4, infraorbital pores 4+2, preoperculomandibular pores 3+5, supratemporal pores 1+4; conical and pointed teeth in a regular row on both jaws, 2 regular rows anteriorly but 2-3 irregular rows posteriorly on vomer; prevomerine and vomerine teeth slightly separated from each other; mean vertebral formula 14/50/147: 13-14 before dorsal fin, 48-51 before anal fin, 143-153 in total (Ref. 86398).
Biology:  Burrows into sandy, muddy substrate using its hard pointed tail (Ref. 86398).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.