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Cloudy cuskeel (Xestochilus nebulosus) — Ophichthidae

Cloudy cuskeel

Xestochilus nebulosus
Family: Ophichthidae

The Cloudy cuskeel (Xestochilus nebulosus) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 47 cm.

Length
47 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–42.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The cloudy cuskeel is a cusk eel (Ophidiidae) of deeper soft-bottom areas in the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a slender, elongate, pale to greyish body with long, confluent dorsal and anal fins and small eyes. As a sluggish bottom-dweller of the dark deep water it shelters in sand and burrows and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cloudy cuskeel?

The Cloudy cuskeel has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly white.

Where does the Cloudy cuskeel live?

The Cloudy cuskeel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Cloudy cuskeel get?

The Cloudy cuskeel grows to a maximum of about 47 cm.

Is the Cloudy cuskeel dangerous to humans?

No, the Cloudy cuskeel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Nevelige naaldvis sourced
English name
Cloudy cuskeel sourced
Scientific name
Xestochilus nebulosus
Family
Ophichthidae
Other names
Nebulous snake eel sourced

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
47.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
42.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Ophichthidae

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