A New Species of Snake Eel from Viet Nam

A new species of snake eel genus Ophichthus is described on the basis of two specimens collected central coast of Viet Nam. The new species is distinguishable from four similar congeners by having two preopercular pores, a less elongate body (both depth 20–25 times in TL) and the following combination of characters: tail length 56% TL; teeth moderately large and conical, biserial along the entire upper jaw, biserial anteriorly and uniserial posteriorly on lower jaw, uniserial on vomer, and total vertebrae 121–130. This study provides an additional understanding of snake eel species in Vietnamese waters. Additional collections are needed to help for further understanding of the taxonomy of this group.

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