Ophichthidae is a
family of
fish in the
orderAnguilliformes, commonly known as the snake eels. The term "Ophichthidae" comes from
Greekophis ("serpent") and ichthys ("fish"). Snake eels are also burrowing eels. They are named for their physical appearance, as they have long, cylindrical, snake-like bodies.[2] This family is found worldwide in
tropical to warm
temperate waters. They inhabit a wide
range of habitats, from coastal shallows and even
rivers, to depths below 800 m (2,600 ft).[3] Most species are bottom dwellers, hiding in mud or sand to capture their prey of crustaceans and small fish, but some are
pelagic.[4]
These species range in
total length from 5 cm (2.0 in) to 2.3 m (7.5 ft) or more. Many species lack fins altogether, improving their ability to burrow into the substrate like worms. They are often spotted or striped in colour,
mimicking the appearance of venomous
sea snakes to deter predators.[4] Often, they are washed ashore by large storms.
Genera
Currently, 62 recognized genera are placed in this family:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ophichthidae.
^Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2016).
"Ophichthidae" in
FishBase. June 2016 version.
^Goodson, G. (1988). Fishes of the Pacific Coast: Alaska to Peru, Including the Gulf of California and the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press. p. 238.
ISBN978-0804713856.