Bigfin Snake Eel

Description: Characterized by uniform brown to black overall color, pale below lateral midline; median fins, dark; HL 17 in TL; body extremely elongate, depth at gill opening 42-59 in TL; tail 1.4-1.6 in TL; vertebrae 221; origin of dorsal fin just above or behind pectoral fin tips; moderately developed pectoral fin, rounded; tail tapering to hard, finless point; small prominent barbel between anterior and posterior nostril; lips and mouth with numerous papillae; stout teeth, minute, conical, uniserial on jaw and biserial in vomer; 3-4 intermaxillary teeth, not in typical chevron (Ref. 90102).

Vertebrae: 221

Inhabits sand and mud bottoms to 25 m (Ref. 90102).

分布於印度-西太平洋海域，包括印尼西部及臺灣西部及西南部海域。

罕見物種，無任何漁業利用，僅具有研究價值。

體細長，體長為體高之41.1倍，頭長之11.2倍；尾長為頭與軀幹之1.6倍；頭長為吻長之4.6倍；吻長為眼徑2.1倍。吻尖；口裂超過眼之後緣稍後；上頜較下頜長；上下頜骨齒小且尖銳，各1列，齒列前端接近鋤骨齒列；前上頜骨齒5顆，鋤骨齒為不規則之2列，後方合為1列，呈現"Y"型。背鰭起點在鰓裂之後；背、臀鰭在近尾端處略微提高；胸鰭中等發達；無尾鰭。福馬林標本之體色均一，呈橄欖色，腹側淡褐色；胸鰭淺黃色；背、臀鰭淡色。

大多潛居於淺海域20-50米深之沙泥底。以小型魚類及甲殼類為食。

The bigfin snake eel (Ophichthus macrochir) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1853. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific. It dwells at a depth range of 0–25 metres, and inhabits sand and mud. Males can reach a maximum total length of 92 centimetres.