Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus, 1758)
Serpent eel
Ophisurus serpens
photo by El Aoussimi, A.

Family:  Ophichthidae (Snake eels), subfamily: Ophichthinae
Max. size:  250 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range - 300 m
Distribution:  Circumglobal: Atlantic (northern coast of Iberian peninsula to South Africa, also Madeira and western Mediterranean) and Indo-Pacific: southern Mozambique to South Africa; north to Japan, south to Australasia.
Diagnosis:  Body olive green to brown above, paler below; head pores black; young silvery (Ref. 3972).
Biology:  Inhabiting the continental shelf on sand or mud bottom (Ref. 4455). Buried with only its head exposed (Ref. 27121). Also found in estuaries (Ref. 9563).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 October 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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