WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Gold-Spotted Eel

Myrichthys ocellatus

Also known as: Caribbean Eel, Dark-spotted Snake Eel, Goldspot Snake Eel, Gold-Spotted Snake Eel, Golden-spotted Eel, Ocellated Snake Eel

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
Adult
@JolineCuracao · Curaçao - Mambo Beach, Curaçao · February 20201 / 6
01

Overview

Found singly, hiding in the sand, or on shallow sand patches during the day, out at night foraging for food, over coral, sand, and seagrass beds, of coral and rocky reefs close to islands.
They feed nocturnally on crabs.

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.

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How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
  • Country only · 6
LIVES IN

Found singly, hiding in the sand, or on shallow sand patches during the day, out at night foraging for food, over coral, sand, and seagrass beds, of coral and rocky reefs close to islands.

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Adult photos 6

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAnguilliformes
    5. familyOphichthidae
    6. genusMyrichthys
    7. speciesMyrichthys ocellatus (Lesueur, 1825)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Snake Eels (Ophichthidae)