Pearlbelly Snake Eel

This species of the Scolecenchelys gymnota species group is distinguished by the following set of characters: head 9.9-12 % TL; tail 54-58 % TL; body depth 2.0-4.0 % TL; snout 15-20 % HL; horizontal distance between dorsal-fin origin and a vertical through mid-anus 3.5-46 % HL; blunt snout; rictus of mouth anterior to or just below a vertical through posterior margin of eye; upper-jaw teeth arranged biserially and vomer only a single row or rarely biserial anteriorly; predorsal vertebrae 54-63, preanal 54-58, total 135-146; MVF 59-56-139 (Ref. 104540).Description: Characterized by pale greyish color, sometimes with reddish fins; no pectoral fins; dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin; soft and flexible tail tip; small and sharp teeth (Ref. 90102).

Vertebrae: 135 - 146

Burrowing species of inshore waters (Ref. 75154).

Inhabits reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Forms congregations in confined sandy areas of sandy bottoms (Ref. 30874). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874.

The redfin worm-eel (Scolecenchelys laticaudata, also known as the pearlbelly snake-eel) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by James Douglas Ogilby in 1897, originally under the genus Myropterura. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific and southeastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Red Sea, East and South Africa, Ducie Island, and Lord Howe Island. It dwells at a depth range of 1 to 26 metres (3.3 to 85.3 ft), and inhabits lagoons and reefs, forming colonies in sand sediments in confined areas. Males can reach a maximum total length of 35 centimetres (14 in).