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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
Range
Europe: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia Herzegov., Cape Verde, Croatia, France and others

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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. Europe: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia Herzegov., Cape Verde, Croatia, France and others

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. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Slender finless snake eel (Apterichtus anguiformis) — Ophichthidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Donald Davesne (CC BY 4.0)
Slender finless snake eel (Apterichtus anguiformis) — Ophichthidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) AMP Bergeggi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Easily confused with

These species look like the Slender finless snake eel and live in the same waters.

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All data

Identification

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
Natural range
Europe: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia Herzegov., Cape Verde, Croatia, France and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. 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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