Ophidion scrippsae
Basketweave Cusk-Eel
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Ophidiiformes (Pearlfishes and others)
Ophidiidae (Cusk-Eels)
Ophidion
Ophidion scrippsae (Basketweave Cusk-Eel)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36413). Pelvic fin consists of one ray with two branches of unequal length (Ref. 36413).
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Point Arguello in California, USA (Ref. 2850) to Baja California. The single record from the Gulf of California is erroneous.
Habitat Associations
Marine. demersal. depth range 0-110 m.
Biology
Uncommon species ranging from the shore to 110 m depth (Ref. 34024). Usually found on sand bottom from 2.7-7 m depth (Ref. 2850). Oviparous, with pelagic larvae (Ref. 36413). Oval, pelagic eggs float in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Max length: 28.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Oviparous (Ref. 36413).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2007-05-23. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann (1983) A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p.
Fitch, J.E. and R.J. Lavenberg (1975) Tidepool and nearshore fishes of California. California Natural History Guides:38. University of California Press, Berkelley and Los Angeles, California. 156 p.
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins (1999) Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO.
Ambrose, D.A. (1996) Ophidiidae: cusk-eels. p. 513-531. In H.G. Moser (ed.) The early stages of fishes in the California Current region. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas No. 33. 1505p.
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