Olive snake eel

The olive snake eel (Ophichthus rutidoderma, also known as the Derby snake-eel[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1853, originally under the genus Ophisurus.[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific. It forms burrows in soft sediments in shallow waters, and leads a nocturnal lifestyle. Males can reach a maximum total length of 95 centimetres (37 in).[3]

Olive snake eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Ophichthus
Species:
O. rutidoderma
Binomial name
Ophichthus rutidoderma
(Bleeker, 1853)
Synonyms[1]
  • Ophisurus rutidoderma Bleeker, 1853
  • Ophisurus lumbricoides Bleeker, 1853
  • Ophisurus rutidodermatoides Bleeker, 1853
  • Ophichthus rutidodermatoides (Bleeker, 1853)
  • Ophichthys rutidodermatoides (Bleeker, 1853)
  • Ophichthus derbyensis Whitley, 1941

The olive snake eel's diet consists of finfish.[5]

References
  1. Synonyms of Ophichthus rutidoderma at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names of Ophichthus rutidoderma at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Ophichthus rutidoderma at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Bleeker, P., 1853-54 [ref. 339] Bijdrage tot de kennis der Muraenoïden en Symbranchoïden van den Indischen Archipel. Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen. v. 25 (art. 5): 1-62+ 63-76.
  5. Food items reported for Ophichthus rutidoderma at www.fishbase.org.


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