Snake,
eel or eel-like fish?
How to tell them apart?
updated Sep 2020
Long
and squirmy These kinds of animals are often mistaken for
one another. |
![](../vertebrates/snakes/laticauda/031124sised0009m3b.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/snakes/laticauda/031029sncd0002m3a.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/snakes/laticauda/031124sised0009m3a.jpg) |
Yellow-lipped
sea snake
Laticauda
colubrina
The
sea snake is a reptile.
|
No
gills or gill openings.
No
tube on the nostrils.
No
fins.
Has
large scales. |
The tail is flattened and paddle-like. |
![](../vertebrates/fish/muraenidae/tile/101224sisd4114m3.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/fish/muraenidae/tile/080621labd6014m3c.jpg)
|
![](../vertebrates/fish/muraenidae/tile/101224sisd4114m3a.jpg) |
Moray
eel
Family
Muraenidae
The moray eel is a fish
and a true eel. |
Gill
openings reduced to pores.
Pair
of tubular nostrils at the snout.
No
pectoral fins.
No
scales. |
Dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the tail fin. |
![](../vertebrates/fish/ophichthidae/evermann/081231sisd4444m3.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/fish/ophichthidae/evermann/081231sisd4439.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/fish/ophichthidae/evermann/081231sisd4442m3.jpg) |
Snake-eel
Family Ophichthidae
The snake-eel is a fish,
but a true eel.
|
Gill
openings reduced to slits.
Pair
of tubular nostrils at the snout.
Has pectoral fins.
No
scales. |
Tail tip bony and stiff, sharply pointed. |
![](../vertebrates/fish/pseudochromidae/subducens/040703sisg0982m3.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/fish/pseudochromidae/subducens/040703sisg0982m3a.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/fish/pseudochromidae/subducens/040703sisd1598m3a.jpg)
|
Carpet
eel-blenny
Congrogadus subducens
Family Pseudochromidae
The
carpet eel-blenny is a fish,
but NOT a true eel. |
Has
large gill covers.
Has large eyes.
No
tube on the nostrils.
Has
pectoral fins.
Has
small scales. |
Dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the tail fin. |
![](../vertebrates/fish/plotosidae/canius/050818cftg1436m3.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/fish/plotosidae/canius/050818cftg1436m3a.jpg) |
![](../vertebrates/fish/plotosidae/canius/050818cftg1436m3b.jpg) |
Eeltail catfish
Family Plotosidae
The
eeltail catfish is a fish
but NOT a true eel. |
Has 'whiskers' (barbels).
Gill openings reduced.
No
tube on the nostrils.
Has
pectoral fins.
No scales. |
Dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the tail fin. |
![](../worm/nemertea/verylong/050325sjid1973m3.jpg)
Ribbon worms can be
very long.
They usually stay on the ground
and don't swim about very fast.
|
|
![](../cnidaria/others/gorgonacea/whip/030714bbd0067m3.jpg)
A sea whip
is a colony of tiny animals that are usually anchored to the bottom,
although the entire whip-like colony may sway in the currents.
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