Oriental worm-eel facts for kids
The Oriental worm-eel (Lamnostoma orientalis) is a fascinating type of eel. It's also known by other names like the Oriental snake eel or finny sand-eel. This long, slender fish belongs to a family called Ophichthidae, which are known as worm or snake eels because of their body shape. It was first described by a scientist named John McClelland in 1844.
Quick facts for kids Oriental worm-eel |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Lamnostoma |
| Species: |
L. orientalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Lamnostoma orientalis (McClelland, 1844)
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Contents
About the Oriental Worm-Eel
This eel loves warm waters! You can find the Oriental worm-eel in tropical parts of the Indo-Western Pacific Ocean. It lives in both salty ocean waters and fresh river waters. It has been found in many places, including countries like Somalia, South Africa, India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Where It Lives
The Oriental worm-eel usually lives in shallow waters, from the surface down to about 3 meters (10 feet) deep. It likes to make its home by digging burrows in sand and mud. You can often find these eels in places where rivers meet the sea, like estuaries, or in cloudy waters near the coast.
What It Looks Like
These eels can grow up to 36 centimeters (about 14 inches) long. That's about the length of a school ruler! However, most of them are a bit smaller, usually around 25 centimeters (10 inches).
What It Eats
The Oriental worm-eel is a hunter! Its diet mainly consists of small creatures without backbones, called invertebrates. It also enjoys eating small fish and prawns.
How People Use It
People don't usually catch the Oriental worm-eel for food very often. It's considered to be of minor commercial interest. When it is caught, usually by hand or in nets, it's often sold fresh to be used as bait for catching other fish.
Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List is a group that checks on how many animals are left in the wild. They have listed the Oriental worm-eel as "Least Concern." This means there are lots of them, and they are not currently in danger of disappearing. This is because they live in a very wide area and there aren't many big threats to them right now.
However, the IUCN also notes that pollution in freshwater areas where these eels live could become a problem in the future. Keeping our rivers and waters clean is important for all animals, including the Oriental worm-eel!
 | Roy Wilkins |
 | John Lewis |
 | Linda Carol Brown |
