Genus: Ichthyapus, Snake-Eels, Sand-Eels
snout pointed, overhanging
eyes minute
eyes minute
no fins
tail tip hard point
nostrils: front = hole, rear in mouth
ICHTHYAPUS
SAND-EELS, SNAKE-EELS
Body elongate, cylindrical, pointed at both ends, entirely finless; head and trunk 36-38% of TL; eyes tiny; snout sharply pointed from side, depressed and broad above, overhanging, underside flattened and with a tooth-bearing central groove; teeth pointed, in single rows on jaws and roof of mouth; front nostril a flat hole, rear one with an irregular rim, opens into mouth; gill openings entirely below head, under throat, converging forward, almost touching underneath; lateral line complete, lines of each side of head connected by 2 canals with across top of head.
The genus is known from all tropical seas, and has ~6 species. One west Atlantic species occurs in the Greater Caribbean.
