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Slender finless snake eel (Apterichtus anguiformis) — Ophichthidae

Slender finless snake eel

Apterichtus anguiformis
Family: Ophichthidae

The Slender finless snake eel (Apterichtus anguiformis) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 49 cm.

Length
49.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–250.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The slender finless snake eel is a snake eel (Ophichthidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. The species grows to about 49 cm and has a very slender, worm-shaped, yellowish body almost without fins and with a pointed, hard tail tip. As a bottom-dweller it burrows tail-first into sand and mud bottoms and searches for small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender finless snake eel?

The Slender finless snake eel has a snake-like body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Slender finless snake eel live?

The Slender finless snake eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Slender finless snake eel get?

The Slender finless snake eel grows to a maximum of about 49 cm.

Is the Slender finless snake eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender finless snake eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slanke vinloze slangaal sourced
English name
Slender finless snake eel sourced
Scientific name
Apterichtus anguiformis
Family
Ophichthidae
Other names
Slender finless eel sourced

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
49.3 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
250.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Apterichtus

More from the family Ophichthidae

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