Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Ophichthinae
Etymology: Aplatophis: Greek, aplatos, apletos = terrible + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335); zorro: zorro in reference to the coloration of the pore pattern along the face, reminiscent of the slash mark of the swordsman Zorro (Ref. 43686).
More on authors: McCosker & Robertson.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 10 m (Ref. 43686). Tropical
Eastern Central Pacific: Panama.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 104 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43686)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 120. Stout ophichthid with nearly uniform gray or brown coloration, overlain on head with a prominent pattern of small white spots; depth 23 times in TL; head large, 6.7 times in TL; dorsal fin arises well behind pectoral fin tips; pectoral fins not elongate, rounded; eye small; jaw elongate, the lower projecting; nostrils tiny, in upper lip; jaw teeth conical, some enlarged as fangs anteriorly, biserial in jaws and uniserial in vomer (Ref. 43686).
Assumed to live in permanent or semi-permanent burrows with only snout and eyes exposed, darting to feed on other fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 43686).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
McCosker, J.E. and D.R. Robertson, 2001. Aplatophis zorro, a new species of eastern Pacific snake-eel, with comments on New World ophichthid distributions (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae). Rev. Biol. Trop. 49(Suppl.1):13-19. (Ref. 43686)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00089 (0.00039 - 0.00204), b=3.00 (2.80 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (62 of 100).