Harman Patil (Editor)

Crocodile snake eel

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Kingdom
  
Family
  
Order
  
Eel

Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Species

Crocodile snake eel Crocodile snake eel Brachysomophis crocodilinus

Similar
  
Brachysomophis, Eel, Brachysomophis cirrocheilos, Ophichthidae, Callechelys

The Crocodile snake eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus, also known as the Henshaw's snake eel or the Reptilian snake eel) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by Edward Turner Bennett in 1833. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including East Africa, the Society Islands, Japan, and Australia. Males can reach a maximum total length of 120 centimetres. It dwells at a depth range of 0–30 metres (most often at around 0–2 m), and inhabits coral reefs. It forms burrows in sand and lies in wait to ambush prey, leaving only its eyes exposed. Its diet consists of octopuses, species of Calcarina, and finfish.

The species epithet "crocodilinus", as well as the common name, refer to the species' crocodilian appearance. The Crocodile snake eel is used in Chinese medicine.

Crocodile snake eel Too greedyquot dead crocodile snake eel Batrice GALONNIER Flickr
Crocodile snake eel httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

References

Crocodile snake eel Wikipedia