Scientific Name
Ophidion selenops

Common Name
Mooneye cusk-eel

Biology
Uncommon species (Ref.34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).

Classification

Classified By

Robins & B?hlke, 1959

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cusk eels (Ophidiiformes)

Family

Cusk-eels (Ophidiidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: South Carolina to Florida Keys, including the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951).

Range

34°N - 24°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

12 m

Depth To - meters

144 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 12 - 144 m (Ref. 5951)

Trophic Level

3.32 s.e. 0.53 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

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

10.0 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 (12 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