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Zorro snake eel (Aplatophis zorro) — Ophichthidae

Zorro snake eel

Aplatophis zorro
Family: Ophichthidae

The Zorro snake eel (Aplatophis zorro) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 104 cm.

Length
103.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–10.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Zorro snake eel is a snake eel (Ophichthidae) from shallow sand and mud water of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 50 cm and has a very slender, eel-like, pale body with a large mouth full of sharp teeth and a hard, pointed tail with which it burrows backwards into the bottom. As a nocturnal predator it lies hidden by day with only its head out of the sand and seizes small fish and crustaceans at night. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Zorro snake eel?

The Zorro snake eel has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly white.

Where does the Zorro snake eel live?

The Zorro snake eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Zorro snake eel get?

The Zorro snake eel grows to a maximum of about 104 cm.

Is the Zorro snake eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Zorro snake eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zorro-slangaal sourced
English name
Zorro snake eel sourced
Scientific name
Aplatophis zorro
Family
Ophichthidae
Other names
Snaggle-toothed snake-eel sourced

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
103.9 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Aplatophis

More from the family Ophichthidae

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