Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Crocodile snake eel

Brachysomophis crocodilinus

Edward Turner Bennett, 1833

The Crocodile snake eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus, also known as the Henshaw's snake eel or the Reptilian snake eel) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by Edward Turner Bennett in 1833. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including East Africa, the Society Islands, Japan, and Australia. Males can reach a maximum total length of 120 centimetres. It dwells at a depth range of 0-30 metres (most often at around 0-2 m), and inhabits coral reefs. It forms burrows in sand and lies in wait to ambush prey, leaving only its eyes exposed. Its diet consists of octopi, species of Calcarina, and finfish.

The species epithet "crocodilinus", as well as the common name, refer to the species' crocodilian appearance. The Crocodile snake eel is used in Chinese medicine.

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Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Anguilliformes
Family
Ophichthidae
Genus
Brachysomophis
Species
Brachysomophis crocodilinus

Synonyms

  • Brachysomophis sauropsis, Leonard Peter Schultz (1943)
  • Achirophichthys typus, Pieter Bleeker (1864)
  • Brachysomophis horridus, Johann Jakob Kaup (1856)
  • Brachysonophis crocodilinus, Edward Turner Bennett (1833)
  • Ophichthys crocodilinus, Edward Turner Bennett (1833)
  • Ophisurus crocodilinus, Edward Turner Bennett (1833)

Photos

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Range Map