Crested cusk-eel (Ophidion welshi) fish species and information / pictures of Crested cusk-eel - Ophidion welshi

Crested cusk-eel (Ophidion welshi) fish species information

Scientific Name
Ophidion welshi

Common Name
Crested cusk-eel

Biology
Common species (Ref. 34024). Found from shore to 55 m depth. Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).

Classification

Classified By

Nichols & Breder, 1922

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cusk eels (Ophidiiformes)

Family

Cusk-eels (Ophidiidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Georgia and northeastern Florida in USA and the entire northern Gulf of Mexico. Known range requiring clarification (Ref. 34024). Probably a junior synonym of Ophidion josephi (Ref. 34024).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

55 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 55 m

Trophic Level

3.51 s.e. 0.56 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

25.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 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

Low vulnerability (25 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated