Ornate snake eel

Ornate snake eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Herpetoichthys
Species: H. regius
Binomial name
Herpetoichthys regius
(Richardson, 1848)
Synonyms[1]
  • Ophisurus regius Richardson, 1848
  • Ophichthus regius (Richardson, 1848)
  • Ophichthys regius (Richardson, 1848)
  • Herpetoichthys ornatissimus Kaup, 1856
  • Ophichthus ornatissimus (Kaup, 1856)

The Ornate snake eel (Herpetoichthys regius, also known as the Sea snake in St. Helena[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by John Richardson in 1848, originally under the genus Ophisurus.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Mauritania, St. Helena, and India. It inhabits the continental shelf, where it forms burrows in sand sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 90 centimetres (35 in).[3]

References

  1. ↑ Synonyms of Herpetoichthys regius at www.fishbase.org.
  2. ↑ Common names of Herpetoichthys regius at www.fishbase.org.
  3. 1 2 Herpetoichthys regius at www.fishbase.org.
  4. ↑ Richardson, J., 1844-48 [ref. 3740] Ichthyology of the voyage of H. M. S. Erebus & Terror,... In: J. Richardson & J. E. Gray. The zoology of the voyage of H. H. S. "Erebus & Terror," under the command of Captain Sir J. C. Ross ... during ... 1839-43. London. v. 2 (2): i-viii + 1-139, Pls. 1-60.


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