Animalia Life

Ophisternon candidum
FAMILY
Synbranchidae
TAXONOMY
Anommatophasma candidum Mees, 1962, Yardie Creek Station, North West Cape, Western Australia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Spanish: Anguila ciega.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Grows to 15.8 in (40 cm). These fishes have a very elongated, eellike, and roundish body with no fins, except for a thin, rayless fin fold near and around the tip of the tail. The lateral line system is distinct and continues to near the tip of the tail. It is whitish in coloration, lacks externally visible eyes, and is scaleless.
DISTRIBUTION
This species used to be found in 11 locations (two now destroyed) in the western and northeastern coastal plain of the Cape Range Peninsula of Australia.
HABITAT
Inhabits wells, sinkholes, and caves and possibly also occurs in aquifers.
BEHAVIOR
No information is available.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
This species feeds on invertebrates, both hypogean and epigean, that accidentally fall into its
HABITAT
. Due to its
HABITAT
, it is not subject to predation.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
External fertilization. No additional information is available.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Of ecological and scientific interest only.

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