Scientific Name
Diastobranchus capensis

Common Name
Basketwork eel

Biology
Dark purplish black in color (Ref. 3973). Lateral line pores before anus about 27 (Ref. 3973).

Classification

Classified By

Barnard, 1923

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Cutthroat eels (Synaphobranchidae)

Distribution

Region

Circum-austral, except eastern Pacific (Ref. 26895). Distributed on the continental slope of South Africa, off Tasmania, New Zealand, Discovery Seamount and the Rio Grande Rise off South America (Ref. 5167). Also found in Argentina (Ref. 47881).

Distribution

Range

5°N - 50°S, 50°W - 179°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

183 m

Depth To - meters

2000 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 183 - 2000 m (Ref. 57911)

Trophic Level

4.24 s.e. 0.59 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

180 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tmax>10)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated