Species: Callechelys guineensis, Shorttail snake eel

Callechelys guineensis (Osorio, 1894)

Shorttail snake eel

Head and body elongate, compressed, 66-70% of TL; head short, snout strongly pointed, a median groove on its underside extends to front nostrils, slightly overhanging mouth; anterior nostril tubular; rear nostril in top lip under eye, opens outside when mouth is closed, covered by a flap; teeth small, pointed, in 1 row on jaws (4-5 above, 7-11 below), 2 between top jaws, 6-9 on roof of mouth; gill openings low on side, converging forwards; gill chamber an expanded pouch; dorsal and anal fins present; dorsal fin high, begins on head at or just behind eye, and ends a little before tail tip; tip of tail a hard finless point; pectorals absent; lateral line complete, lines of each side of head connected by 2 canals with across top of head.