Burrowing snake-eels (Pisodonophis crancrivorous) on the Shores of Singapore

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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes > Family Ophichthidae

Burrowing snake-eel
Pisodonophis crancrivorous
Family Ophichthidae
updated Dec 08

Where seen? This fat long snake-like fish is sometimes seen, usually at night. During one visit to Sisters Island, we saw four of these fishes hunting among the corals! Also seen on coral rubble near seagrasses at Cyrene Reef.

Features: 30-40cm long. The fish indeed resembles a snake, with a long cylindrical body that is only flattened towards the very tip of the tail. It lacks scales. The snout is blunt. The tail tip is bony and sharp so it can burrow quickly, both forwards and backwards! It has pectoral fins, the dorsal fin starts above the pectoral fins. It swims by moving the body in S-shapes, rather like a sea snake. It is said that large ones have wrinkled skin.

Sometimes mistaken for sea snakes. Here's more on how to tell apart sea snakes, eels and eel-like animals.

What does it eat? It hunts fishes, octopuses, squids and cuttlefishes and crustaceans. It has granular teeth.

Human uses: It is said to be marketed fresh as food and caught in bag nets.

Status and threats: Snake-eels are not listed as among the threatened animals of Singapore. However, like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Over-fishing may also have an impact on local populations.