Species: Phaenomonas longissima, Short-maned sand-eel, Shortmaned snake eel

Phaenomonas longissima (Cadenet & Marchal, 1963)

Short-maned sand-eel

Body extremely elongate, (body depth  0.7-1.0% TL),  cylindrical; tail very short, 23-33% of TL;  head 3.8-4.3% TL; the only fin present is a short-based dorsal originating on head and ending  ~3 head lengths behind gill opening; snout overhanging, blunt, groove  underneath that  is bordered by folds that appear as papillae between front nostrils; eye minute, imbedded, over rear ¼ of mouth; front nostril tubular; rear nostril under edge of top lip, covered by a flap, opens inside mouth under eye; lips without barbells; teeth small, strong, stout, conical, in single row on jaws, largest at front, pointing back, 7-9 on top jaw, 7-12 on lower jaw; 4-6 teeth on vomer; gill openings low on side, crescentic, gill pouch slightly puffed up; tip of tail a hard conical point.