Family : Carapidae (Pearlfishes) , subfamily: Carapinae
Order : Ophidiiformes  (cusk eels)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Graceful pearlfish
Fish Name : Encheliophis gracilis
Max size : 30.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 4104)
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range - 62 m
Climate : tropical
Global Importance : fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: Distribution: Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: in tropical waters.
Diagnosis : Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; maxilla adnate or nearly so; cardiform teeth present; branchiostegal membranes partly or completely united; swim bladder with thin terminal membrane or bulb; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins, and swim bladder rocker bone (Ref. 34024). Precaudal vertebrae 26 or more; swim bladder long, tubular, extending well beyond 12th vertebra (Ref. 34024).
Biology : Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Benthic (Ref. 58302, 75154). Lives in starfish (Culcita discoidea) and sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra and H. argus). In the latter reported by Trott (1970) to form male - female pairs and to parasite host
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins. 1999. (Ref. 34024)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses