Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Branchysomophis

Branchysomophis atlanticus

Blache & Saldanha, 1972

Snake Eel

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank

Range: Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Senegal and Gulf of Guinea.

Size: 11 inches (27 cm)

Natural Environment: Burrows into sand and mud in lagoons and has a depth range of about 25 to 250 feet (8 – 75 m) and at night, its head protrudes from the sand, but by day, only the tip of its snout or the top of its head protrudes from the sand or mud. Basically feeds on smaller fishes and crustaceans in evening hours.

General Husbandry: Has a whitish body with numerous dark brownish bands. Not collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Anguilliformes

    Suborder: Congroidei

    Family: Ophichthidae

    Subfamily: Ophichthinae

    Genus: Brachysomophis

FYI: Those in this genus are termed ‘Snake Eels’ and are nasty looking and quite secretive, residing buried in the sand or mud with only their head showing while awaiting a tasty meal to come close enough to be captured and eaten. They require at a minimum, very deep fine sandbeds, e.g., 6 – 10 inches (15 – 25 cm), more if a large species, and tankmates large enough not to be eaten. Basically unsuitable for the average home aquarium as they require live foods and an environment tuned to their needs, e.g., far more area than what would be given a moray eel two to three times their size, and containing little decor.

Shown here for identification only.

No common name, other than ‘Snake Eel’ has yet been applied to this species as of 2016.

 Branchysomophis atlanticus (Snake Eel)
Photo © Peter Wirtz
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