Leopard eel


The leopard eel is an eel in the worm or snake eels family, Ophichthidae. It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1839, originally under the genus Ophisurus.
Male leopard eels can reach a maximum total length of. It is of minor commercial interest to fisheries.

Distribution and habitat

It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Canary Islands; Annobon Island, Equatorial Guinea; and São Tomé Island. It forms burrows in coarse sand sediments on rocky island coasts.
Also found in the Western Atlantic Ocean , size approx 100 cm

Ecology

The leopard eel's diet consists of benthic invertebrates.