OPHICHTHUS ALTIPENNIS - (KAUP, 1856)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Elopomorpha (Superorder) > Anguilliformes (Order) > Ophichthidae (Family) > Ophichthinae (Subfamily) > Ophichthus (Genus)
Anguille-serpent à nageoire haute, Highfin Snake Eel, Tongari-hotate-umihebi, ホタテウミヘビ, 돛물뱀, 帆鰭豆齒鰻,
Synonymes
Microdonophis altipennis (Kaup, 1856)
Ophichthus melanochir (Bleeker, 1864)
Ophichthys melanochir (Bleeker, 1864)
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Description
Lateral-line pores: 7–9 predorsal, 55–61 preanal; Pectoral-fin rays: 16–18; Vertebrae (total): 177–182, 8–9 predorsal, 52–59 preanal; Mean vertebral formula 9-57-179. Head long: 9.5–10.9% TL; Tail length: 58.1–65.6% TL, tapering rapidly; Snout acute, its length: 20.0–24.4% HL; Three preopercular pores; Teeth on upper jaw uniserial, teeth on vomer biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly; Dorsal-fin origin anterior to a vertical through pectoral-fin insertion. Max. length: 103.0 cm TL. Depth range: 10 - 15 m.
Color
Anterior dorsal-fin membrane with a distinct dark blotch; Cephalic sensory pores margined dark brown, with additional rows of black pits on snout, cheek and lower jaw; Body without obscure bars (both in life and preservation). A prominent pale spot before eye and a smaller pale spot on snout above anterior nostril.
Etymology
Ophichthus: from Greek, ophis = serpent + from Greek, ichthys = fish. Referring to snake-like appearance.
altipennis: from Latin, altus = high + from Latin, penna, pennae = wing, fin or feather, especially a flight-feather. Referring to greatly developed fins, especially high dorsal fin
Original description: Microdonophis altipennis Kaup, 1856 - Type locality: Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Maldives east to Marshall Islands and Society Islands, north to Japan, south to Western Australia, Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
A benthic and burrowing species which occurs over soft bottoms of inshore waters. Feeds on cephalopodes, crustaceans and small fishes. Solitary in sand, often with head protruding.
Similar species
Ophichthus zophistius (Jordan & Snyder, 1901) - Reported from Northwestern Pacific: China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and one specimen pelagic in central northwestern Pacific Ocean at 28°21.5’N 135°01.7’E.
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Elopomorpha (Superorder) > Anguilliformes (Order) > Ophichthidae (Family) > Ophichthinae (Subfamily) > Ophichthus (Genus)
Anguille-serpent à nageoire haute, Highfin Snake Eel, Tongari-hotate-umihebi, ホタテウミヘビ, 돛물뱀, 帆鰭豆齒鰻,
Synonymes
Microdonophis altipennis (Kaup, 1856)
Ophichthus melanochir (Bleeker, 1864)
Ophichthys melanochir (Bleeker, 1864)
--------------------------------
Description
Lateral-line pores: 7–9 predorsal, 55–61 preanal; Pectoral-fin rays: 16–18; Vertebrae (total): 177–182, 8–9 predorsal, 52–59 preanal; Mean vertebral formula 9-57-179. Head long: 9.5–10.9% TL; Tail length: 58.1–65.6% TL, tapering rapidly; Snout acute, its length: 20.0–24.4% HL; Three preopercular pores; Teeth on upper jaw uniserial, teeth on vomer biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly; Dorsal-fin origin anterior to a vertical through pectoral-fin insertion. Max. length: 103.0 cm TL. Depth range: 10 - 15 m.
Color
Anterior dorsal-fin membrane with a distinct dark blotch; Cephalic sensory pores margined dark brown, with additional rows of black pits on snout, cheek and lower jaw; Body without obscure bars (both in life and preservation). A prominent pale spot before eye and a smaller pale spot on snout above anterior nostril.
Etymology
Ophichthus: from Greek, ophis = serpent + from Greek, ichthys = fish. Referring to snake-like appearance.
altipennis: from Latin, altus = high + from Latin, penna, pennae = wing, fin or feather, especially a flight-feather. Referring to greatly developed fins, especially high dorsal fin
Original description: Microdonophis altipennis Kaup, 1856 - Type locality: Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Maldives east to Marshall Islands and Society Islands, north to Japan, south to Western Australia, Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
A benthic and burrowing species which occurs over soft bottoms of inshore waters. Feeds on cephalopodes, crustaceans and small fishes. Solitary in sand, often with head protruding.
Similar species
Ophichthus zophistius (Jordan & Snyder, 1901) - Reported from Northwestern Pacific: China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and one specimen pelagic in central northwestern Pacific Ocean at 28°21.5’N 135°01.7’E.
Pisodonophis boro (Hamilton, 1822) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson, 1848) - Reported from Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Algoa Bay (South Africa), Madagascar and western Mascarenes east to French Polynesia, north to Japan, south to Australia (Northern Territory and Queensland).
Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson, 1848) - Reported from Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Algoa Bay (South Africa), Madagascar and western Mascarenes east to French Polynesia, north to Japan, south to Australia (Northern Territory and Queensland).
Ophichthus sangjuensis (Ji & Kim, 2011) - Reported from Eastern Indian Ocean, northwestern Pacific: West Bengal (India); Southern Korea and Japan. Depth range: 2 - 40 m.
Last update: 22, May 2021