Documenting a New Record of Deep-Sea Blotched Snake-Eel Ophichthus erabo Along Indian Waters

Abstract

Two rare deep-sea specimens collected from the Kollam slope area, off Kerala, India, were identified as Ophichthus erabo (Jordan & Snyder, 1901), commonly known as the Blotched Snake-Eel. A review of existing literature indicates that this species had not been previously reported along the Indian coast, making this the first record for the region. The species is distinguished from its congener, Ophichthus polyophthalmus, by the presence of numerous brown to dark brown smudges on the head and body, usually arranged in two irregular rows.