42: OPHICHTHIDAE (SNAKE EELS & WORM EELS)
42.22 Ophichthus unicolor: top: 30 cm holotype of O. algoensis; bottom: 26 cm (after Regan, 1908) (both Algoa Bay). Arrows indicate D origin,
anus and gill opening.
Genus Ophisurus Lacepede, 1800
Two species; 1 in our area.
42.23 Ophisurus serpens
(Linnaeus, 1766)
PLATE 7
Sand snake-eel
Sandslangetjie
Muraena serpens Linnaeus, 1766: 425 (Atlantic) . Leptorhynchus capensis Smith, 1849: PI. 6 (Cape). Ophisurus serpens: Smith, SFSA No. 1106*;
1962: 455*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 137*.
Head 11.5-13.0; depth 40-60; tail 1.5-1.6. D origin 1-2 P lengths behind
P. Teeth mostly canines on intermaxillary; uniserial, large fangs on
vomer. Vertebrae 200-213.
Body olive green to brown above, paler below; head
pores black; young silvery. Attains 120 cm (250 cm in New
Zealand). Angola to southern Mozambique; Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic, Japan and Australasia.
Genus Phaenomonas Myers & Wade, 1941
Three species; 1 expected in our area.
42.23 Ophisurus serpens: 68 cm (Port Alfred). Arrow indicates anus.
184
42.24 Phaenomonas cooperae
Palmer, 1970
Short-maned sand-eel
Kortmaanhaar-slangpaling
Phaenomonas cooperae Palmer, 1970: 219 (Gilbert Islands).
Head 26-31; depth 117-150; tail 3.2-3.4. P & A absent. D origin on
nape , disappearing after about 3 head lengths. Eye minute. Teeth small,
pointed, uniserial. Vertebrae 243-270.
Pinkish in life, brown in preservative. Attains 59 cm . Red
Sea and Aldabra to central Pacific; expected to occur in our
area.
42.24 Phaenomonas cooperae: 59 cm (Palau; after McCosker, 1975). Arrow
indicates anus.