Maimed snake eel explained

The Maimed snake eel (Muraenichthys schultzei, also known as the Aimed snake eel, the Bleeker's worm-eel, or the Schultz's worm eel[1]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[2] It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1857.[3] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, East Africa, Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands, Australia, and Micronesia. It dwells at a depth range of 1mto13mm (03feetto43feetm), and inhabits coral reefs and lagoons, where it forms burrows in soft benthic sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 24cm (09inches), but more commonly reach a TL of 8cm (03inches).[2]

The Maimed snake eel is of minor commercial interest to fisheries. It is usually bagged, netted or dug out, and sold for shark bait.[2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=7290&GenusName=Muraenichthys&SpeciesName=schultzei&StockCode=7581 Common names of Muraenichthys schultzei
  2. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Muraenichthys-schultzei.html Muraenichthys schultzei
  3. Bleeker, P., 1857 [ref. 16868] Descriptiones specierum piscium javanensium novarum vel minus cognitarum diagnosticae. Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indiƫ v. 13: 323-368.