Ophichthus mystacinus McCosker 1999

This moderately elongate species of Ophichthus, subgenus Coecilophis is distinguished by the following characters: tail 59-60%, head 10.7-11.7% of total length, body depth behind gill openings 3.6-4.3% of TL; origin of dorsal-fin about mid-trunk; elongate pectoral fins with the central rays threadlike; posterior margin of orbit ahead of rictus; small and inconspicuous head pores, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 2+6; small, conical and numerous teeth, biserial in jaws and anteriorly on vomer; yellowish tan in color, brown dorsally, fins and anterior nostrils pale; snout tip smudged but not blackened; mean vertebral formula 34.2/61.3/169.7, total vertebrae 162-177 (Ref. 84366).

Vertebrae: 162 - 177

Ophichthus mystacinus is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by John E. McCosker in 1999. It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from New Caledonia, in the western Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 371 to 824 metres (1,217 to 2,703 ft). Males can reach a maximum total length of 42.9 centimetres (16.9 in).

The species epithet "mystacinus" means "mustachioed" in Greek.