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Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Ophidiinae
Etymology: Parophidion: Greek, para in the side of + Greek, ophidion, diminitive of ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Karl Patterson Schmidt (1890–1957) was a herpetologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Subtropical
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Bahamas and southern Florida (USA) to northern South America.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Scales on body in anguilloid pattern, somewhat overlapping, interorbital region scaled, opercle naked, cheeks, top of head forward to centre of interorbital region scaled; ethmoid spine reduced to a low bump; gill chamber and guts pale; no pyloric caeca; males with posterior opening on swim bladder; the two pelvic fin rays equally long or very nearly so (Ref. 34024).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Adults occur in shallow coastal waters, usually in turtle grass beds (Ref. 7251). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.4 - 28, mean 27.2 °C (based on 214 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00257 (0.00122 - 0.00544), b=3.17 (2.98 - 3.36), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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