Tiger snake eel
📖 Overview
Found in sandy areas of reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs; living buried in the sand. May aggregate in large numbers under a light at night . Sometimes fully exposed when searching for prey . Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans . Solitary and more common at night (Ref 90102).
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 185 - 189. Pale cream in color with variable pattern of large and small black spots with narrower white interspaces . Young with black saddles . Its behavior is similar to Myrichthys colubrinus and Leiuranus semicinctus. : eel-like; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Tiger snake eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 262 m . Tropical; 30°N - 33°S East Africa to the central Pacific, not including Hawaii and the Leeward Islands.
🌿 Ecology
small fishes and crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Tiger snake eel is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.7 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 121 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Tiger snake eel has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Ocellate Snake Eel · Spotted Snake Eel · tiger snake eel · tiger snake-eel |
| 🌍CES | hadař skvrnitý |
| 🇩🇪German | Gefleckter Schlangenaal |
| 🇫🇷French | Anguille-serpent maculée · Anguille-serpent tachetée · poisson-serpent tacheté · Serpentine à pois |
| 🌍HEB | מירנון מטבעוני |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Anguilla serpente maculata · Anguilla serpente tigre |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Moyomongaradoshi · モヨウモンガラドオシ |
| 🌍MAH | Hagman-lisadso |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Gevlekte Slangaal |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Falsa-moréia-tigre |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Tieso ocelado |
| 🌍TAH | puhi popo'uru |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 斑紋花蛇鰻 · 硬骨仔 · 硬骨篡 · 篡仔 · 鰻仔 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muraena maculosa | Cuvier | 1816 | Synonym |
| Muraena tigrina | Rüppell | 1830 | Synonym |
| Myrichthys aki | Tanaka | 1917 | Synonym |
| Myrichthys rupestris | Snyder | 1912 | Synonym |
| Myrichtys maculosus | Cuvier | 1816 | Synonym |
| Ophichthus miyamotonis | Tanaka | 1913 | Synonym |
| Ophichthys dromicus | Günther | 1870 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 29 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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