Species: Ophichthus puncticeps, Palespotted eel, Palespotted snake eel

Ophichthus puncticeps (Kaup, 1860)

Palespotted snake eel, Palespotted eel

Body cylindrical, moderately robust, stouter than tail; tail 51-56% of TL;  head broad, flattened, triangular from above; snout broad, overhanging; eye large, over middle of mouth; front nostril a tube, longer at back than front; rear nostril entirely outside mouth, well before eye, covered with a small flap; mouth large; teeth conical, small, no fangs, roof of mouth with  1-3 pairs at front, then 1 row of 11-14 that are smaller to the rear, jaws with 2 rows of teeth; top jaw with outer row of 17-25, inner row of 13-24; lower jaw with 2 rows of 17-29, outer row larger; dorsal origin before, over, or just behind tips of pectorals, rear part of fin with short, erect spiny rays, then an expanded section of fin; pectoral fin 30-45% of head length, pointed, 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.