Crocodile snake eel

Crocodile snake eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Brachysomophis
Species:
B. crocodilinus
Binomial name
Brachysomophis crocodilinus
Synonyms[1]
  • Ophisurus crocodilinus Bennett, 1833
  • Ophichthys crocodilinus (Bennett, 1833)
  • Brachysonophis crocodilinus (Bennett, 1833)
  • Brachysomophis horridus Kaup, 1856
  • Achirophichthys typus Bleeker, 1864
  • Brachysomophis sauropsis Schultz, 1943

The crocodile snake eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] In 1833, it was described by Edward Turner Bennett.[3] It is a tropical, marine eel known from the Indo-Pacific, including East Africa, the Society Islands, Japan, and Australia.[4] The crocodile snake eel is used in Chinese medicine.[2]

Description

The crocodile snake eel typically has a short snout, long jaw and a flesh above and behind the eyes.[4] Their bodies have designs that help them to camouflage with its environment (sand, coral debris etc.) which allows them to burrow themselves into sand and be hidden.[5] Males can reach a maximum length of 120 centimeters.[6] The species epithet "crocodilinus", as well as the common name, refer to the species crocodilian appearance.

Distribution and habitat

The crocodile snake eel can be found in the Indo-Pacific, including East Africa, the Society Islands, Japan, and Australia. They are found in mud bottoms or in the sand at a depth range of 0–30 meters (most often around 0–2 m). They are not normally seen but occasionally at night you can see them on the surface.[7] They usually burrow in the sand and wait to ambush prey, often leaving their eyes exposed.[8] Their diet consists of octopuses, a species of Calcarina, and finfish.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Synonyms of Brachysomophis crocodilinus at www.fishbase.org.
  2. 1 2 Brachysomophis crocodilinus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. ↑ Bennett, E. T., 1833 (17 May) [ref. 16786] Characters of new species from the Mauritius. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1833 (pt 1): 32.
  4. 1 2 "Brachysomophis crocodilinus summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  5. ↑ LaMonte, Francesca (1961-03-17). "The Snake-Eel, Achirophichthys kampeni, from Papua". Copeia. 1961 (1): 115. doi:10.2307/1440191. ISSN 0045-8511.
  6. ↑ "The Mighty Crocodile Snake Eel - Scuba Hank NYC". scubahanknyc.com. 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  7. ↑ McCosker, John E. (2002). "Notes on Hawaiian Snake Eels (Pisces: Ophichthidae), with Comments on Ophichthus bonaparti". Pacific Science. 56 (1): 23–34. doi:10.1353/psc.2002.0005. ISSN 1534-6188.
  8. 1 2 Food items reported for Brachysomophis crocodilinus at www.fishbase.org.
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