Species: Ophichthus cylindroideus, Tentacle-nose eel, Tentacle-nose snake eel

Ophichthus cylindroideus (Ranzani, 1839)

Tentacle-nose snake eel

Body cylindrical, stouter than tail; tail 63-68% of TL; eye moderate, over center of mouth; snout broad, overhanging; front nostril tubular, with a tentacle longer than the tube hanging from its inner rim; rear nostril a large opening with an irregularly rimmed flap, opens mostly outside mouth; a small barbell from lip between front and rear nostrils; mouth large; teeth conical, small, no fangs; roof of mouth with 19-35 teeth mostly in 2 rows; jaw teeth in two rows; top jaw with 18-30 close set on outer row, 13-21 back pointing teeth on inner row  (which begins behind upper row); lower jaw with 20-30 outer and inner teeth, plus 2-5 in a short 3-row patch at front; dorsal origin over mid- to near tip of pectoral; pectoral fin long (34-50% of head length), like a spatula, with restricted base - opposite and above upper half of gill opening; tip of tail a blunt, finless point; lateral line complete, lines of each side of head connected by 2 canals with across top of head.