Mimic cusk-eel (Ophidion imitator) fish species and information / pictures of Mimic cusk-eel - Ophidion imitator

Mimic cusk-eel (Ophidion imitator) fish species information

Scientific Name
Ophidion imitator

Common Name
Mimic cusk-eel

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 135-163; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 112 - 139; Vertebrae: 70 - 76. Dark brown to black blotching and spotting on head, dorsal, and lateral portion of the body. Scales with anguilliform arrangement on body; ethmoid spine blunt. Pelvic filaments long. Gill rakers numerous. Prejuvenile stage present.

Classification

Classified By

Lea, 1997

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cusk eels (Ophidiiformes)

Family

Cusk-eels (Ophidiidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Central Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Central Pacific: off the tip of Baja California and Sinaloa, Mexico to the Gulf of Panama.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

18 m

Depth To - meters

112 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 18 - 112 m (Ref. 26886)

Trophic Level

3.5 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

19.1 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 to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100)

Resilience

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

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)