The ornate snake eel (Herpetoichthys regius), also known as the sea snake in St. Helena[3] is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[4] It was described by John Richardson in 1848, originally under the genus Ophisurus.[5] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Mauritania, St. Helena, and Ascension Island. It inhabits the continental shelf, where it forms burrows in sand sediments. Males can reach a maximum total length of 90 centimetres (35 in).[4]
| Ornate snake eel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Ophichthidae |
| Genus: | Herpetoichthys |
| Species: | H. regius
|
| Binomial name | |
| Herpetoichthys regius (Richardson, 1848)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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References
edit- ^ Tighe, K. (2015). "Herpetoichthys regius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T199135A2562677. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T199135A2562677.en. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Bailly, Nicolas (2020). "Herpetoichthys regius (Richardson, 1848)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Common names of Herpetoichthys regius at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Herpetoichthys regius". FishBase.
- ^ Richardson, J. "Ichthyology of the voyage of H. M. S. Erebus & Terror". In J. Richardson; J. E. Gray (eds.). The zoology of the voyage of H. H. S. "Erebus & Terror," under the command of Captain Sir J. C. Ross during 1839-43. Vol. 2. London.
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