Ophichthus brachynotopterus Karrer 1982

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 : 11-12

Ophichthus brachynotopterus Karrer 1982

Ophichthus brachynotopterus Karrer 1982:73 (type locality, NE Madagascar, holotype MNHN 1979-21).

Diagnosis. A moderately elongate species of Ophichthus , subgenus Coecilophis , with: tail 55–59%, head 10.2–10.8%, and depth at gill openings 3.0–3.7% of TL; dorsal-fin origin a head length behind gill opening; pectoral fins wedge-shaped, not elongate; eye large, rear margin of orbit slightly in advance of rictus; posterior nostril a hole in upper lip, barely covered with a flap; head pores minute, not obvious, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 2+6; teeth small, numerous, biserial on jaws, uniserial on vomer; coloration tan, pale ventrally, snout tip dark, anterior nostrils and fins pale, anal-fin base black posteriorly; mean vertebral formula 24.5/60/ 172, total vertebrae 167–178 (n=5).

Size. To 461 mm, a male.

Distribution. Known from Madagascar, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, at depths between 355– 580 m.

Remarks. The holotype of Ophichthus brachynotopterus was reported by Karrer (1982: 75) to have 178 total vertebrae and its dorsal-fin origin "at the level of the 27–31 vertebra". The paratype was reported to have 72–74 abdominal vertebrae and 104 caudal vertebrae. Originally described from Madagascar, subsequent material from the collections of the MNHN include specimens from New Caledonia and Vanuatu, trawled at depths between 541– 580 m.

Material examined. MNHN 1979-21, the holotype, 438 mm, Madagascar, Nosy-Bé (13o S, 48o E), 355– 428 m. And paratypes: MNHN 1979-22, 442 mm, and MNHN 1979-23, 413 mm, collected with the holotype. Other material examined: MNHN 1997-0599, 461 mm, Vanuatu (16o39' S, 168o01'E) 541–577 m, Sta. CP 1050. MNHN 2001-1098, 3(399–454 mm), New Caledonia (21o13'S, 165o55'E), 515–580 m, pelagic net, 12 Mar. 1993.