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Family: Ophichthidae Snake eels



(See list of species below)


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338 species (see list below)
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No picture found
 
Ophichthus tchangi
[]

Photo by McCosker & Rosenblatt, 1998

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 55.6 cm TL
Ophichthus tetratrema McCosker & Rosenblatt, 1998

Photo by Photo by McCosker & Rosenblatt, 1998
 
Ophichthus tetratrema
[]

Photo by McCosker, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 44.7 cm TL
Ophichthus tomioi McCosker, 2010

Photo by Photo by McCosker, J.E.
 
Ophichthus tomioi
[]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 121.5 cm TL
Ophichthus triserialis (Kaup, 1856)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Ophichthus triserialis
[Pacific snake eel]

Photo by Shao, K.T.

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Ophichthus tsuchidae Jordan & Snyder, 1901

Photo by Photo by Shao, K.T.
 
Ophichthus tsuchidae
[]

Photo by SFSA

Southeast Atlantic
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Ophichthus unicolor Regan, 1908

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Ophichthus unicolor
[Plain snake-eel]

Photo by Winterbottom, R.

Indo-Pacific.
Max. Length 61.5 cm TL
Ophichthus urolophus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)

Photo by Photo by Winterbottom, R.
 
Ophichthus urolophus
[Manetail snake eel]
No picture found
 
Ophichthus woosuitingi
[]

Photo by Robertson, R.

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 98 cm TL
Ophichthus zophochir Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Photo by Photo by Robertson, R.
 
Ophichthus zophochir
[Yellow snake eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 207 cm TL
 
Ophisurus macrorhynchos
[]

Photo by El Aoussimi, A.

Circumglobal
Max. Length 250 cm TL
Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by El Aoussimi, A.
 
Ophisurus serpens
[Serpent eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 64.3 cm TL
 
Paraletharchus opercularis
[Pouch snake eel]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 81 cm TL
Paraletharchus pacificus (Osburn & Nichols, 1916)

Photo by Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Paraletharchus pacificus
[Pacific sailfin eel]

Photo by SFSA

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 59 cm TL
Phaenomonas cooperae Palmer, 1970

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Phaenomonas cooperae
[Short-maned sand-eel]

Photo by MNHN

Atlantic Ocean
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Phaenomonas longissima (Cadenat & Marchal, 1963)

Photo by Photo by MNHN
 
Phaenomonas longissima
[Short-maned Sand Eel]

Photo by Robertson, R.

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 53.5 cm TL
Phaenomonas pinnata Myers & Wade, 1941

Photo by Photo by Robertson, R.
 
Phaenomonas pinnata
[Elastic eel]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 42 cm TL
Phyllophichthus xenodontus Gosline, 1951

Photo by Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Phyllophichthus xenodontus
[Flappy snake-eel]

Photo by Ott, G.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 100 cm TL
Pisodonophis boro (Hamilton, 1822)

Photo by Photo by Ott, G.
 
Pisodonophis boro
[Rice-paddy eel]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 108 cm TL
Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson, 1848)

Photo by Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Pisodonophis cancrivorus
[Longfin snake-eel]

Photo by Sandra J. Raredon / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 30.8 cm SL
Pisodonophis copelandi Herre, 1953

Photo by Photo by Sandra J. Raredon / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes
 
Pisodonophis copelandi
[]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 68 cm TL
Pisodonophis daspilotus Gilbert, 1898

Photo by Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Pisodonophis daspilotus
[Blunt-toothed snake eel]
No picture found
 
Pisodonophis hijala
[]

Photo by FAO

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 22 cm TL
Pisodonophis hoevenii (Bleeker, 1853)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Pisodonophis hoevenii
[Hoeven's snake eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 75 cm TL
 
Pisodonophis hypselopterus
[]

Photo by Kim, J.-K.

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 60.1 cm TL
Pisodonophis sangjuensis Ji & Kim, 2011

Photo by Photo by Kim, J.-K.
 
Pisodonophis sangjuensis
[Korean Snake eel]

Photo by FAO

Eastern Central Atlantic
Max. Length 80 cm TL
Pisodonophis semicinctus (Richardson, 1848)

Photo by Photo by FAO
 
Pisodonophis semicinctus
[Saddled snake eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 25.9 cm TL
 
Pseudomyrophis atlanticus
[]

Photo by Figueiredo, J.L./Menezes, N.A.

Southwest Atlantic.
Max. Length 26 cm NG
Pseudomyrophis frio (Jordan & Davis, 1891)

Photo by Photo by Figueiredo, J.L./Menezes, N.A.
 
Pseudomyrophis frio
[]
No picture found
 
Pseudomyrophis fugesae
[Diminutive worm eel]

Photo by Amezcua Linares, F.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 16 cm TL
Pseudomyrophis micropinna Wade, 1946

Photo by Photo by Amezcua Linares, F.
 
Pseudomyrophis micropinna
[Plain worm eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 36.7 cm TL
 
Pseudomyrophis nimius
[]

Photo by McCosker, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 121.8 cm TL
Pylorobranchus hearstorum McCosker, 2014

Photo by Photo by McCosker, J.E.
 
Pylorobranchus hearstorum
[]

Photo by Loh, K.H.

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 67.6 cm TL
Pylorobranchus hoi McCosker, Loh, Lin & Chen, 2012

Photo by Photo by Loh, K.H.
 
Pylorobranchus hoi
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 71 cm TL
 
Quassiremus ascensionis
[Blackspotted snake eel]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 71 cm TL
Quassiremus evionthas (Jordan & Bollman, 1890)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Quassiremus evionthas
[Galapagos snake eel]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 70 cm TL
Quassiremus nothochir (Gilbert, 1890)

Photo by Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Quassiremus nothochir
[Smallfish snake-eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 79.5 cm SL
 
Quassiremus polyclitellum
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 45.7 cm TL
 
Rhinophichthus penicillatus
[]

Photo by Winterbottom, R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 20 cm TL
Schismorhynchus labialis (Seale, 1917)

Photo by Photo by Winterbottom, R.
 
Schismorhynchus labialis
[Grooved-jaw worm eel]

Photo by Winterbottom, R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 35 cm TL
Schultzidia johnstonensis (Schultz & Woods, 1949)

Photo by Photo by Winterbottom, R.
 
Schultzidia johnstonensis
[Johnston snake-eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 11.5 cm TL
 
Schultzidia retropinnis
[Fringe-lipped worm eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 10 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys acutirostris
[Sharpnose worm eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 46 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys aoki
[Misaki worm eel]

Photo by Good, P.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 40 cm TL
Scolecenchelys australis (Macleay, 1881)

Photo by Photo by Good, P.
 
Scolecenchelys australis
[Shortfinned worm eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 31.4 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys brevicaudata
[Short tail worm eel]

Photo by Groeneveld, R.

Eastern Indian Ocean
Max. Length 60 cm TL
Scolecenchelys breviceps (Günther, 1876)

Photo by Photo by Groeneveld, R.
 
Scolecenchelys breviceps
[Short-headed worm eel]

Photo by McCosker, J.E.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 58 cm TL
Scolecenchelys castlei McCosker, 2006

Photo by Photo by McCosker, J.E.
 
Scolecenchelys castlei
[Deepwater big-eyed worm eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 28.4 cm SL
 
Scolecenchelys chilensis
[Chilean worm eel]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 15.5 cm TL
Scolecenchelys cookei (Fowler, 1928)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Scolecenchelys cookei
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 36.7 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys fuscapenis
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 26.5 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys fuscogularis
[Dark throat worm eel]
No picture found
 
Scolecenchelys godeffroyi
[Godeffroy]

Photo by Williams, J.T.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 38 cm TL
Scolecenchelys gymnota (Bleeker, 1857)

Photo by Photo by Williams, J.T.
 
Scolecenchelys gymnota
[Indo-Pacific slender worm-eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 20 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys iredalei
[Coral worm eel]

Photo by Winterbottom, R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 35 cm TL
Scolecenchelys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897)

Photo by Photo by Winterbottom, R.
 
Scolecenchelys laticaudata
[Redfin worm-eel]

Photo by Krumme, U.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 27.5 cm TL
Scolecenchelys macroptera (Bleeker, 1857)

Photo by Photo by Krumme, U.
 
Scolecenchelys macroptera
[Narrow worm eel]
No picture found
 
Scolecenchelys nicholsarum
[Nichols' worm eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 33.4 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys profundorum
[Deepwater worm eel]
No picture found
 
Scolecenchelys puhioilo
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 29 cm TL
 
Scolecenchelys robusta
[Robust worm eel]
No picture found
 
Scolecenchelys vermiformis
[]

Photo by SFSA

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Scolecenchelys xorae (Smith, 1958)

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Scolecenchelys xorae
[Orangehead worm-eel]

Photo by Robertson, R.

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 97 cm TL
Scytalichthys miurus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)

Photo by Photo by Robertson, R.
 
Scytalichthys miurus
[Shorttail viper eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 22.5 cm TL
 
Skythrenchelys macrostomus
[]

Photo by Bucol, A.A.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 29.6 cm TL
Skythrenchelys zabra Castle & McCosker, 1999

Photo by Photo by Bucol, A.A.
 
Skythrenchelys zabra
[Angry worm eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 34.5 cm TL
 
Stictorhinus potamius
[]

Photo by Golani, D.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 37.5 cm TL
Suculentophichthus nasus Fricke, Golani & Appelbaum-Golani, 2015

Photo by Photo by Golani, D.
 
Suculentophichthus nasus
[Red Sea flappy snake eel]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Indo-Pacific.
Max. Length 47 cm SL
Xestochilus nebulosus (Smith, 1962)

Photo by Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Xestochilus nebulosus
[Nebulous snake eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 81.9 cm TL
 
Xyrias chioui
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 63.6 cm TL
 
Xyrias guineensis
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 75.2 cm TL
 
Xyrias multiserialis
[Speckled snake eel]
No picture found

Max. Length 93 cm TL
 
Xyrias revulsus
[Strict snake eel]

Photo by McCosker, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 39.5 cm TL
Yirrkala calyptra McCosker, 2011

Photo by Photo by McCosker, J.E.
 
Yirrkala calyptra
[]
No picture found
 
Yirrkala chaselingi
[]
No picture found
 
Yirrkala fusca
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 15.3 cm TL
 
Yirrkala gjellerupi
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 25.8 cm TL
 
Yirrkala insolitus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 35 cm TL
 
Yirrkala kaupii
[]

Photo by SFSA

Indo-Pacific.
Max. Length 44 cm TL
Yirrkala lumbricoides (Bleeker, 1864)

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Yirrkala lumbricoides
[Earthworm snake-eel]
No picture found
 
Yirrkala macrodon
[]
No picture found
 
Yirrkala maculata
[]

Photo by Bucol, A.A.

Western Central Pacific.
Max. Length 51.2 cm TL
Yirrkala misolensis (Günther, 1872)

Photo by Photo by Bucol, A.A.
 
Yirrkala misolensis
[Misol snake eel]
No picture found
 
Yirrkala moluccensis
[]

Photo by McCosker, J.E.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 43.4 cm TL
Yirrkala moorei McCosker, 2006

Photo by Photo by McCosker, J.E.
 
Yirrkala moorei
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 23 cm TL
 
Yirrkala omanensis
[Oman snake eel]

Photo by McCosker, J.E.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 43.8 cm TL
Yirrkala ori McCosker, 2011

Photo by Photo by McCosker, J.E.
 
Yirrkala ori
[]
No picture found
 
Yirrkala philippinensis
[]

Photo by SFSA

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 53 cm TL
Yirrkala tenuis (Günther, 1870)

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Yirrkala tenuis
[Thin sand-eel]


Sort by: Species Length Year
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Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Ophichthus tchangi Northwest Pacific 2002
Ophichthus tetratrema Eastern Pacific 55.6 TL 1998
Ophichthus tomioi Indo-Pacific 44.7 TL 2010
Ophichthus triserialis Pacific snake eel Eastern Pacific 121.5 TL 1856
Ophichthus tsuchidae Northwest Pacific 50 TL 1901
Ophichthus unicolor Plain snake-eel Southeast Atlantic 30 TL 1908
Ophichthus urolophus Manetail snake eel Indo-Pacific. 61.5 TL 1846
Ophichthus woosuitingi Western Pacific. 1929
Ophichthus zophochir Yellow snake eel Eastern Pacific 98 TL 1882
Ophisurus macrorhynchos Indo-West Pacific. Atlan 207 TL 1853
Ophisurus serpens Serpent eel Circumglobal 250 TL 1758
Paraletharchus opercularis Pouch snake eel Southeast Pacific 64.3 TL 1941
Paraletharchus pacificus Pacific sailfin eel Eastern Central Pacific 81 TL 1916
Phaenomonas cooperae Short-maned sand-eel Indo-Pacific 59 TL 1970
Phaenomonas longissima Short-maned Sand Eel Atlantic Ocean 50 TL 1963
Phaenomonas pinnata Elastic eel Eastern Pacific 53.5 TL 1941
Phyllophichthus xenodontus Flappy snake-eel Indo-Pacific 42 TL 1951
Pisodonophis boro Rice-paddy eel Indo-West Pacific 100 TL 1822
Pisodonophis cancrivorus Longfin snake-eel Indo-Pacific 108 TL 1848
Pisodonophis copelandi Western Central Pacific 30.8 SL 1953
Pisodonophis daspilotus Blunt-toothed snake eel Eastern Pacific 68 TL 1898
Pisodonophis hijala Indo-Pacific. 1822
Pisodonophis hoevenii Hoeven's snake eel Indo-West Pacific 22 TL 1853
Pisodonophis hypselopterus Asia 75 TL 1851
Pisodonophis sangjuensis Korean Snake eel Northwest Pacific 60.1 TL 2011
Pisodonophis semicinctus Saddled snake eel Eastern Central Atlantic 80 TL 1848
Pseudomyrophis atlanticus Eastern Atlantic 25.9 TL 1975
Pseudomyrophis frio Southwest Atlantic. 26 NG 1891
Pseudomyrophis fugesae Diminutive worm eel Western Atlantic. 1989
Pseudomyrophis micropinna Plain worm eel Eastern Central Pacific 16 TL 1946
Pseudomyrophis nimius Atlantic 36.7 TL 1960
Pylorobranchus hearstorum Western Pacific 121.8 TL 2014
Pylorobranchus hoi Northwest Pacific 67.6 TL 2012
Quassiremus ascensionis Blackspotted snake eel Western Atlantic 71 TL 1889
Quassiremus evionthas Galapagos snake eel Eastern Central Pacific 71 TL 1890
Quassiremus nothochir Smallfish snake-eel Eastern Central Pacific 70 TL 1890
Quassiremus polyclitellum Southwest Pacific 79.5 SL 1996
Rhinophichthus penicillatus Western Pacific 45.7 TL 1999
Schismorhynchus labialis Grooved-jaw worm eel Indo-Pacific 20 TL 1917
Schultzidia johnstonensis Johnston snake-eel Indo-Pacific 35 TL 1949
Schultzidia retropinnis Fringe-lipped worm eel Western Central Pacific 11.5 TL 1934
Scolecenchelys acutirostris Sharpnose worm eel Western Pacific 10 TL 1916
Scolecenchelys aoki Misaki worm eel Northwest Pacific 46 TL 1901
Scolecenchelys australis Shortfinned worm eel Southwest Pacific 40 TL 1881
Scolecenchelys brevicaudata Short tail worm eel Western Pacific 31.4 TL 2015
Scolecenchelys breviceps Short-headed worm eel Eastern Indian Ocean 60 TL 1876
Scolecenchelys castlei Deepwater big-eyed worm eel Southwest Pacific 58 TL 2006
Scolecenchelys chilensis Chilean worm eel Southeast Pacific 28.4 SL 1970
Scolecenchelys cookei Eastern Central Pacific 15.5 TL 1928
Scolecenchelys fuscapenis Northwest Pacific 36.7 TL 2012
Scolecenchelys fuscogularis Dark throat worm eel Northwestern Pacific 26.5 TL 2013
Scolecenchelys godeffroyi Godeffroy Western Pacific. 1909
Scolecenchelys gymnota Indo-Pacific slender worm-eel Indo-Pacific 38 TL 1857
Scolecenchelys iredalei Coral worm eel Indo-Pacific 20 TL 1927
Scolecenchelys laticaudata Redfin worm-eel Indo-Pacific 35 TL 1897
Scolecenchelys macroptera Narrow worm eel Indo-Pacific 27.5 TL 1857
Scolecenchelys nicholsarum Nichols' worm eel Southwest Pacific 1904
Scolecenchelys profundorum Deepwater worm eel Southeast Pacific 33.4 TL 1995
Scolecenchelys puhioilo Eastern Central Pacific 1979
Scolecenchelys robusta Robust worm eel Western Indian Ocean 29 TL 2015
Scolecenchelys vermiformis Western Indian Ocean 1866
Scolecenchelys xorae Orangehead worm-eel Western Indian Ocean 25 TL 1958
Scytalichthys miurus Shorttail viper eel Eastern Pacific 97 TL 1882
Skythrenchelys macrostomus Indo-Pacific 22.5 TL 1864
Skythrenchelys zabra Angry worm eel Indo-West Pacific 29.6 TL 1999
Stictorhinus potamius South America 34.5 TL 1975
Suculentophichthus nasus Red Sea flappy snake eel Western Indian Ocean 37.5 TL 2015
Xestochilus nebulosus Nebulous snake eel Indo-Pacific. 47 SL 1962
Xyrias chioui Pacific Ocean 81.9 TL 2009
Xyrias guineensis Eastern Atlantic 63.6 TL 1975
Xyrias multiserialis Speckled snake eel Western Indian Ocean 75.2 TL 1939
Xyrias revulsus Strict snake eel Indo-Pacific 93 TL 1901
Yirrkala calyptra Western Pacific 39.5 TL 2011
Yirrkala chaselingi Western Central Pacific. 1940
Yirrkala fusca Type locality is given as 1793
Yirrkala gjellerupi Asia 15.3 TL 1916
Yirrkala insolitus Western Pacific 25.8 TL 1999
Yirrkala kaupii Asia 35 TL 1858
Yirrkala lumbricoides Earthworm snake-eel Indo-Pacific. 44 TL 1864
Yirrkala macrodon Western Central Pacific 1863
Yirrkala maculata Western Central Pacific. 1964
Yirrkala misolensis Misol snake eel Western Central Pacific. 51.2 TL 1872
Yirrkala moluccensis Western Central Pacific 1864
Yirrkala moorei Western Central Pacific 43.4 TL 2006
Yirrkala omanensis Oman snake eel Western Indian Ocean 23 TL 1939
Yirrkala ori Western Indian Ocean 43.8 TL 2011
Yirrkala philippinensis Western Pacific 1936
Yirrkala tenuis Thin sand-eel Western Indian Ocean 53 TL 1870



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cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013