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Slantlip eel (Caralophia loxochila) — Ophichthidae

Slantlip eel

Caralophia loxochila
Family: Ophichthidae
LC · Least Concern

The Slantlip eel (Caralophia loxochila) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 46 cm.

Length
46 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The slantlip eel is a snake eel from the western Atlantic, from Florida and the Bahamas to the Caribbean. The species grows to about 46 cm and has a very elongate, snake-like, light brown body with a slanted lower lip, from which the species takes its name. As a bottom-dweller it digs burrows in sandy and seagrass bottoms of shallow coastal waters, where it hunts small bottom animals from cover. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slantlip eel?

The Slantlip eel has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Slantlip eel live?

The Slantlip eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Slantlip eel get?

The Slantlip eel grows to a maximum of about 46 cm.

Is the Slantlip eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Slantlip eel is harmless to humans.

Is the Slantlip eel edible?

The Slantlip eel is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Scheeflip-slangaal verified
English name
Slantlip eel verified
Scientific name
Caralophia loxochila
Family
Ophichthidae
Other names
Slantlip eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
46.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Ophichthidae

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