Snubnose Snake Eel

This moderately elongate species is distinguished by the following: tail 58% and head 9.6% of total length; dorsal-fin origin is above the pectoral fins; elongated pectoral fins, filamentous dorsally; large eyes, the center behind middle of upper jaw; posterior nostril covered by a flap; head pores apparent, SO 1 + 4, IO 4 + 2, POM 6 + 2; teeth are small, conical, and slightly recurved, numerous and close-set; uniserial on vomer and mandible, biserial on maxillary, the inner row larger; pale color, overlain on mid-flank by a dark band; vertebral formula 13/60/153 (Ref. 75745)..

Collection assumed to be over soft substrates, the tow was usually no farther than 300-400 m from known coral habitat. Captured during the trawl included species typical of slope habitat (14 species dominated by Laemonema barbatulum and Helicolenus dactylopterus) and invertebrates (Ref. 75745).