Ophichthus exourus McCosker 1999

E, John, 2010, Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species, Zootaxa 2505, pp. 1-39 : 15

Ophichthus exourus McCosker 1999

Ophichthus exourus McCosker 1999: 575 (type locality New Caledonia, holotype MNHN 1995-425).

Diagnosis. A moderately elongate species of Ophichthus , subgenus Coecilophis , with: tail 59–60%, head 8.1– 8.3% and greatest body depth 3.4–3.8% of TL; dorsal-fin origin in anterior third of trunk; pectoral fins small, paddle-shaped; posterior margin of orbit above rictus; posterior nostril in upper lip, covered by a flap; cephalic pores small, inconspicuous, SO 1+4, IO 3+2, POM 2+6; teeth conical, numerous and small, biserial on maxillary, uniserial on mandible and vomer; coloration yellowish tan, brown dorsally, the fins pale, membrane of anal fin darkened before tail tip; mean vertebral formula 19.7/60/177.3, total vertebrae 176–179 (n=3).

Size. To 669 mm, a female with developing ova.

Distribution. Known from New Caledonia and from Fiji, at 400– 520 m.

Remarks. Originally described from the holotype and a paratype, an additional specimen of O. exourus was found in the collection of the MNHN (see below). It agrees in all characters and in its vertebral formula (18/59/179) with those of the type specimens. The holotype has 20/61/176 vertebrae.

Material examined. MNHN 1995-425, the holotype, 590 mm, New Caledonia (18o56'30 S, 163o12'90 E), 520 m. And paratype: CAS 89552, 429 mm, Fiji, Viti Levu, off Suva Barrier Reef, 400 m. Other material examined: MNHN 2001-1062, 525 mm, male, New Caledonia (21.13o 'S, 165.55o 'W), captured by pelagic trawl in 515–580 m by the Bathus Expedition on 12 Mar. 1993.