Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Ophichthidae (Snake eels) > Myrophinae
Etymology: Neenchelys: Name from Greek 'neo' for new and 'enchelys' for eel.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 100 - 300 m (Ref. 96531). Subtropical
Distribution
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Northwestern Pacific: China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 32.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 96531)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 138 - 148. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body stout and cylindrical, depth at gill openings 23-29 times in TL, 1.7-3 in HL; minute pectoral fin, a small transparent flap; dorsal-fin origin at anterior trunk region, 0.5-0.7 in HL, behind gill opening, predorsal length 5.7-6.4 in TL; head length 8.8-9.9 in TL; tail 1.6-1.8 in T; lower rim of anterior nostril with a slender pointed appendage; MVF 20-55-143; single median temporal and interorbital; pores; supraorbital pores 1 + 4; infraorbital pores 5 + 1 (2 pores between anterior and posterior nostrils); mandibular pores 6 or 7 (mainly 6); preopercular pores 1 or 2 (mainly 1); supratemporal pores 3; cephalic lateral line pores 12-14; predorsal pores 19-24; preanal pores 53-59; colour when fresh uniformly pinkish yellow, when preserved creamy white; posterior margins of median fins blackish (Ref. 96531).
A demersal species found at depths of less than 3300 m. A specimen collected with fully ripe eggs suggests that it is a small species (Ref. 96531).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ho, H.-C., J.E. McCosker and D.G. Smith, 2013. Revision of the worm eel genus Neenchelys (Ophichthidae; Myrophinae), with descriptions of three new species from the western Pacific Ocean. Zoological Studies 52(58):1-20. (Ref. 96531)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 15 - 23, mean 19.2 °C (based on 49 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00076 (0.00029 - 0.00197), b=3.06 (2.83 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.7 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 (23 of 100).
