Home · Ophichthidae · Culebra rosario
Culebra rosario (Myrichthys breviceps) — Ophichthidae

Culebra rosario

Myrichthys breviceps
Family: Ophichthidae
LC · Least Concern

The Culebra rosario (Myrichthys breviceps) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 102 cm.

Length
102 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–9.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The sharptail eel is a snake eel (Ophichthidae) from the western Atlantic and the Caribbean. The species has a very elongate, snake-like body with yellow to golden spots and a stiff, pointed tail with which it burrows backwards into the bottom. Unlike many snake eels it also swims openly over the bottom by day in clear water, from harbours to reefs and seagrass beds. It feeds on small crustaceans and small fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Culebra rosario?

The Culebra rosario has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Culebra rosario live?

The Culebra rosario lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Culebra rosario get?

The Culebra rosario grows to a maximum of about 102 cm.

Is the Culebra rosario dangerous to humans?

No, the Culebra rosario is harmless to humans.

Is the Culebra rosario edible?

The Culebra rosario is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Puntstaartaal sourced
English name
Culebra rosario verified
Scientific name
Myrichthys breviceps
Family
Ophichthidae
Other names
Safio; Seasnake; Sharptail eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
102.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
9.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Myrichthys

More from the family Ophichthidae

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