Ophichthidae is a family of fish in the order Anguilliformes, commonly known as the snake eels. The term "Ophichthidae" comes from Greek ophis ("serpent") and ichthys ("fish"). Snake eels are also burrowing eels. They are named for their physical appearance, as they have long, cylindrical, snake-like bodies. This family is found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate waters. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from coastal shallows and even rivers, to depths below 800 m (2,600 ft). Most species are bottom dwellers, hiding in mud or sand to capture their prey of crustaceans and small fish, but some are pelagic.
Gymnothorax is a genus of fish in the family Muraenidae found in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. With more than 120 species, it the most speciose genus of moray eels.
Echelus is a genus of eels in the snake-eel family Ophichthidae.
Muraenichthys is a genus of eels in the snake eel family Ophichthidae.
Myrophis is a genus of eels in the snake eel family Ophichthidae.
Neenchelys is a genus of snake eels native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. All species of Neenchelys have two rather than three preopercular pores, a significant character among many species of ophichthids.
Ophichthus is a genus of eels in the snake eel family Ophichthidae.
Dysomma is a genus of eels in the cutthroat eel family Synaphobranchidae.
The Rubbernose conger is an eel in the family Congridae. It was described by Johnson T. F. Chen and Herman Ting-Chen Weng in 1967, originally under the genus Rhynchoconger. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western Pacific Ocean, including Taiwan and Australia. It dwells at a depth range of 280 to 440 metres. Males can reach a maximum total length of 36.7 centimetres (1.20 ft).
Gavialiceps taiwanensis is an eel in the family Muraenesocidae. It was described by Johnson T. F. Chen and Herman Ting-Chen Weng in 1967, originally under the genus Chlopsis. It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the northwestern Pacific Ocean, including Taiwan and Okinawa, Japan. It dwells at a depth range of 600 to 750 metres. Males can reach a maximum total length of 75.7 centimetres (29.8 in).
Muraenichthys hattae is a species of eel in the family Ophichthidae.
Muraenichthys malabonensis is a species of eel in the family Ophichthidae.
Neenchelys daedalus is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker in 1982. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western Pacific Ocean, including Papua New Guinea and Japan.
The dark deepwater snake eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker and Chen Yu-Yun in 2000. It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from Taiwan, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 36–1350 m, and inhabits sand and mud. Specimens have been observed in burrows with only their heads exposed, or resting on sediment with their bodies curved in an S shape. Females can reach a maximum total length of 62.8 cm.
Xyrias chioui is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by John E. McCosker, Chen Wei-Li and Chen Hong-Ming in 2009. It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from Taiwan, in the Pacific Ocean. It generally dwells at a depth range of 60–70 meters. Males can reach a maximum total length of 81.9 centimeters.
Dysomma melanurum is an eel in the family Synaphobranchidae. It was described by Johnson T. F. Chen and Herman Ting-Chen Weng in 1967. It is a subtropical, marine eel which is known from the western Pacific Ocean. Males can reach a maximum total length of 23.7 centimetres.
Sympenchelys taiwanensis, also known as the Taiwanese worm eel is a species of ophichthid fish found in Taiwan. This species is only known from northeastern and southwestern Taiwan. This species is the only member of the genus Sympenchelys.
Ophichthus bicolor, the bicolored snake eel, is an eel in the family Ophichthidae, found around Taiwan. This species reaches a length of 92.7 cm (36.5 in).
Ophichthus shaoi, the long-bodied snake eel, is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It is found around Taiwan. This species reaches a length of 62.3 cm (24.5 in).
The many-vertebrae snake eel is a species of ray-finned fish native to the Northwest Pacific.
