WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Saddled Snake Eel

Leiuranus semicinctus

Also known as: Banded Snake Eel, Half-banded Snake Eel

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2022
Adult
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01

Overview

Found singly, over sandy areas and in seagrass beds, of lagoons and seaward reefs.
Widespread Southeast Atlantic, Indo Pacific

Snake Eels resemble snakes or worms because they have virtually no fins. Their pointed snouts and tails allow them to burrow beneath the sand.
They can usually be found with just their head showing above the sand waiting for their prey, a few species prowl around the sands at night. Some mimic banded sea snakes and can be found in the open during the day.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
stripes

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific, Southeast Atlantic
LIVES IN

Found singly, over sandy areas and in seagrass beds, of lagoons and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 0

05

Discussion 2

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2 comments

  • Kara· 26 May 2016

    In 2014 I videoed this eel while snorkeling in Kapalua Bay in Hawaii. It was about 3 ft long.

  • stewart spencer· 20 Oct 2013

    saddled snake eel located few metres off beach snorkling in rhodes mediterranen sea is this common?

ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumChordata
  3. classTeleostei
  4. orderAnguilliformes
  5. familyOphichthidae
  6. genusLeiuranus
  7. speciesLeiuranus semicinctus (Lay & Bennett, 1839)

SourcesWoRMSFishBase

06

More in the family

Snake Eels (Ophichthidae)