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Ophichthus bonaparti
Also known as Bonaparte's Snake Eel, Clown Snake Eel, Saddled Snake-eel and Brown-banded Snake Eel. They feed nocturnally on small fish and invertebrates, and grow to about 75cm in length.
Found singly, buried in the sand or rubble near coral reefs, with just the head showing. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.
Spotted on Nov 5, 2011
Submitted on Dec 5, 2011
4 Comments
Hi Raeven. Hmmm... not really. Don't know if that's what it's trying to achieve, but when my torch finds him, those spots look like spots. :)
He's lovely! It's snout looks rather like cartoon pebbles against shaded sand - does that come across as realistic pebbles at nighttime?
Hi Martin. Eels come in different colors and patterns. :)
Astounding - i thought eels are rather brownish - this one really seems to use mimicry to imitate a seasnake - no wonder it's named that way !