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Twostripe snake eel (Callechelys bilinearis) — Ophichthidae

Twostripe snake eel

Callechelys bilinearis
Family: Ophichthidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Twostripe snake eel (Callechelys bilinearis) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 170 cm.

Length
170 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–22.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The twostripe snake eel is a large snake eel from coastal and reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 170 cm and has a very long, slender, worm-like, scaleless body with two dark longitudinal stripes and strongly reduced fins. As a bottom-dweller it burrows into sand and seagrass bottoms of shallow water and sometimes shows only its head to seize passing prey. It hunts small fish and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Twostripe snake eel?

The Twostripe snake eel has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Twostripe snake eel live?

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

How big does the Twostripe snake eel get?

The Twostripe snake eel grows to a maximum of about 170 cm.

Is the Twostripe snake eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Twostripe snake eel is harmless to humans.

Is the Twostripe snake eel edible?

The Twostripe snake eel is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tweestreep-slangaal verified
English name
Twostripe snake eel verified
Scientific name
Callechelys bilinearis
Family
Ophichthidae
Other names
Twostripe snake eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
170.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
22.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

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 Callechelys

More from the family Ophichthidae

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