Long Bodied Snake Eel

This moderately elongate species is distinguished by the following characters:: tail 50-52%, head 9-10%, body depth at gill opening 2.6-3.2% of total length; dorsal-fin origin is above mid-pectoral fin; wedge-shaped pectoral fin not elongate and well-developed; posterior nostril is a hole within upper lip opening into mouth, not visible externally; conspicuous upper lip barbel behind anterior nostril; pores are small but conspicuous, SO 1+4, IO 6+2, POM 6+3; teeth are small and conical, uniserial on jaws and mandible; body coloration uniform grayish-brown, throat and ventral trunk region gray, body and tail brown, fins pale; total vertebrae 155-164, mean vertebral formula 11-69-159 (Ref. 106143).

Vertebrae: 155 - 164

Ophichthus shaoi, the long-bodied snake eel, is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It is found around Taiwan. This species reaches a length of 62.3 cm (24.5 in).