Serpent eel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Serpent eel |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Ophisurus |
| Species: |
O. serpens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus, 1758)
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The serpent eel or sand snake-eel (Ophisurus serpens) is a cool type of eel. It lives in many parts of the world's oceans. You can find it in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the western Mediterranean Sea. It also lives in the western Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. This eel is also found near the North Island in New Zealand.
This fish is long and thin, like a snake. It can grow up to 250 centimetres (about 8 feet) long! During the day, it hides in the sand or mud. At night, it comes out to swim and find food.
What Does the Serpent Eel Look Like?
The serpent eel is a very long and slender fish. It can reach a length of about 250 cm (98 inches). But it's usually around 100 cm (39 inches) long. Its body is quite thin, only about 5 cm (2 inches) wide.
Its snout is long and pointy. The upper jaw sticks out further than the lower jaw. It has sharp teeth that you can usually see. Its front nostril is halfway between its snout tip and its eye. The back nostril is hidden in a groove near the eye.
The eel's mouth opens wide, reaching back to its eye. During the day, its eye pupil looks like an almond. At night, it becomes round. It has small fins near its gills. Its dorsal fin (on its back) and anal fin (on its belly) are long but low. It does not have pelvic fins or a tail fin. You can clearly see a line along its side called the lateral line.
The serpent eel is usually a pale brownish-green color. It often has shiny silver spots on its sides. Its belly is a lighter color. Young eels have a shorter snout and are silvery.
Where Do Serpent Eels Live?
The serpent eel lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Its home ranges from Senegal to Portugal. It also lives in the Mediterranean Sea. This eel has been seen off other parts of Africa and in the Indian Ocean. It's also found near Australia and New Zealand.
Because it's found in so many different places, scientists think there might be two very similar species. They look almost exactly alike! These eels like soft, muddy, or sandy places. They mostly live on the continental shelf, which is the shallow part of the ocean floor. They can be found at depths down to about 300 meters (984 feet).
How Do Serpent Eels Live?
The serpent eel is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active at night. During the day, it hides by burying itself in the sand or mud. Only its head sticks out. To bury itself, it wiggles its body. It goes into the sediment tail first.
These eels are very loyal to their burrows. Scientists have seen the same eel using the same hiding spot for over a month! It's hard to spot them during the day. This is because they hide and their color helps them blend in. At night, they come out to hunt for food. They probably eat fish and crustaceans (like crabs or shrimp) that are the right size.
 | Dorothy Vaughan |
 | Charles Henry Turner |
 | Hildrus Poindexter |
 | Henry Cecil McBay |
