This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Vo, Quang Van, Hibino, Yusuke, Ho, Hsuan-Ching, Le, Thao Thu Thi, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): Two new snake eels (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae, Ophichthus) from Viet Nam, with redescriptions of O. macrochir (Bleeker) and O. rutidoderma (Bleeker). ZooKeys 1231: 311-329, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1231.137323

Abstract

Two new extremely elongate snake eel of the genus Ophichthus are described based on specimens collected from Vietnamese waters. Ophichthus cuulongensis Vo, Hibino & Ho, sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having the dorsal-fin origin slightly behind the pectoral-fin tip, mean vertebral formula 14-63 - 202, range 12–17 / 60 – 64 / 199 – 207; teeth on jaws biserial to triserial; dorsal body dark brown, ventral body pale, anal fin initially white but changing to darker towards its tip. Ophichthus nguyenorum Vo, Hibino & Ho, sp. nov. is distinguished by having a snout rather pointed but the occipital convex (duck-shaped); body with numerous longitudinal wrinkles, weak on posterior abdomen; dorsal-fin origin slightly behind the pectoral-fin tip; one row of teeth on the maxilla anteriorly but increasing posteriorly; two rows on the lower jaw; all teeth small; body dark, usually including abdomen; dorsal fin darker with dark margin; anal fin initially pale but changing to darker towards tip; mean vertebral formula: 15-62 - 192, range 13–17 / 61 – 64 / 190 – 196. Descriptions of two related species, O. macrochir (Bleeker, 1852) and O. rutidoderma (Bleeker, 1852), are provided with updated morphological data.

GBIF url: https://www.gbif.org/dataset/34298ba8-9656-44e3-9662-a17908db1de8
Homepage: https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/summary/16D733BC1AB65C39868369F533BE13CD
Citation: Vo Q V, Hibino Y, Ho H, Le T T T, Seah Y G, pensoft (2025). Two new snake eels (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae, Ophichthus) from Viet Nam, with redescriptions of O. macrochir (Bleeker) and O. rutidoderma (Bleeker). ZooKeys. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/jpud5n accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-10-13.