Johnston Snake Eel

Description: Characterized by bluish grey color, grading to white ventrally; head length 8-9 in TL; laterally compressed body and tail; greatest depth of body 24-35 in TL; origin of dorsal fin 1.3-1.5 head length behind anus; dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin; no pectoral fins; rounded snout, slightly projecting beyond lower jaw; anterior nostrils tubular about two-thirds eye diameter; posterior nostrils anterior to front edge of eye, opening at edge of upper lip and covered by flap; relatively large eye, posterior edge above corner of mouth; small gill opening, slightly below midlateral position; conical teeth small, in 2-3 rows in upper jaw and about four rows in lower jaw; vomer without teeth (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 153 - 159

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs to depths of 12 m or more (Ref. 1602). Burrowing species of inshore waters (Ref. 75154). Feeds small fishes, crabs, and prawns.

Feeds small fishes, crabs, and prawns (Ref. 1602). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Inhabits sand bottoms among coral reefs in 2-23 m.

The Johnston snake eel (Schultzidia johnstonensis), also known as the peppered worm eel in Micronesia and Hawaii is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by Leonard Peter Schultz and Loren Paul Woods in 1949. It is a marine, tropical eel, which is known from the Indo-Pacific region, including the Chagos Islands, Hawaii, the Marquesan Islands, the Society Islands, Australia, and New Caledonia. It dwells at a depth range of 2–23 m, and inhabits sand sediments in coral reefs. It can reach a maximum total length of 35 cm.

The Johnston snake eel's diet consists of crabs, prawns, and small finfish.