Ophichthus triserialis (Kaup, 1856)
Pacific snake eel
Ophichthus triserialis
photo by FAO

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  121.5 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 373.3 g
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 155 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: off Klamath River in northern California, USA to Peru, including Gulf of California in Mexico and Galapagos Islands Rare in north of Baja California, Mexico. Common on shrimp grounds from Gulf of California southward.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 145-152
Biology:  Inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms, from shallow waters up to a depth of 20 m (Ref. 9328). Burrows in bottoms. Generally captured from tide pool depths to 155 m (Ref. 31243).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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