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Round sand-eel (Bascanichthys cylindricus) — Ophichthidae

Round sand-eel

Bascanichthys cylindricus
Family: Ophichthidae
LC · Least Concern

The Round sand-eel (Bascanichthys cylindricus) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 88 cm.

Length
88 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The whip eel is a snake eel (Ophichthidae) from the eastern Pacific. The species has an extremely elongate, thin, almost cylindrical, worm-like body with a stiff, pointed tail with which it burrows backwards into the bottom. It inhabits sand bottoms to a few metres deep, where it lives largely buried with sometimes only the head protruding. As a bottom hunter it grabs small invertebrates and small fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Round sand-eel?

The Round sand-eel has a snake-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Round sand-eel live?

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

How big does the Round sand-eel get?

The Round sand-eel grows to a maximum of about 88 cm.

Is the Round sand-eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Round sand-eel is harmless to humans.

Is the Round sand-eel edible?

The Round sand-eel is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Cilinder-zandslangaal sourced
English name
Round sand-eel verified
Scientific name
Bascanichthys cylindricus
Family
Ophichthidae

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
88.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Bascanichthys

More from the family Ophichthidae

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