Home · Ophichthidae · Narrowfin snake eel
Narrowfin snake eel (Cirrhimuraena tapeinoptera) — Ophichthidae

Narrowfin snake eel

Cirrhimuraena tapeinoptera
Family: Ophichthidae

The Narrowfin snake eel (Cirrhimuraena tapeinoptera) is a saltwater fish of the family Ophichthidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The narrowfin snake eel is a snake eel (Ophichthidae) from shallow coastal and estuarine water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a very slender, eel-like, pale-brown body with a pointed, hard tail tip with which it burrows backwards into the bottom. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it lives largely buried in sand and mud bottoms and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Narrowfin snake eel?

The Narrowfin snake eel has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Narrowfin snake eel live?

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

How big does the Narrowfin snake eel get?

The Narrowfin snake eel grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Narrowfin snake eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Narrowfin snake eel is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Smalvin-slangaal sourced
English name
Narrowfin snake eel sourced
Scientific name
Cirrhimuraena tapeinoptera
Family
Ophichthidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
40 sourced
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
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

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 Cirrhimuraena

More from the family Ophichthidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →