Magnificent snake eel | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Ophichthidae |
Genus: | Myrichthys |
Species: | M. magnificus |
Binomial name | |
Myrichthys magnificus (Abbott, 1860) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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The magnificent snake eel (Myrichthys magnifies), also known as the Hawaiian spotted snake eel, [3] is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). [4] It was described by Charles Conrad Abbott in 1860, originally under the genus Pisodonophis . [5] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean, including the Hawaiian Islands, the Leeward Islands, Johnston Island, and Midway Atoll. It dwells at a depth range of 1 to 262 metres (3.3 to 859.6 ft), and inhabits crevices, sand and rocks. Males can reach a maximum total length of 78 centimetres (31 in). [4]