Myrichthys colubrinus

(Boddaert, 1781)

Harlequin Snake Eel, Banded Snake Eel

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to the Society Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Queensland.

Size: 36 inches (90 cm)

Natural Environment: Burrows into sandy flats and seagrass beds in shallow coastal areas at depths about 3 to 100 feet (1 – 30 m) and basically feeds on small fishes and crustaceans in daytime hours.

General Husbandry: Has brown and white body bands. Not collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

Order: Anguilliformes

Suborder: Congroidei

Family: Ophichthidae

Subfamily: Ophichthinae

Genus: Myrichthys

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.