Black-striped snake eel

The black-striped snake eel (Callechelys catostoma, also known commonly as the dark band snake eel[2]) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider and Johann Reinhold Forster in 1801.[4] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, East Africa, the Society Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, and Lord Howe Island. It dwells at a depth range of 1–32 metres, and inhabits reefs. It burrows into loose gravel and sand. Males can reach a maximum total length of 85 centimetres.[3]

Black-striped snake eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Ophichthidae
Genus:	Callechelys
Species:	C. catostoma
Binomial name
Callechelys catostoma (J. G. Schneider & J. R. Forster, 1801)
Synonyms[1]
Sphagebranchus catostomus Schneider, 1801 Callechelys catostomus (Schneider, 1801) Callechelys melanotaeni Bleeker, 1864 Callechelys melanotaenius Bleeker, 1864 Leptenchelys pinnaceps Schultz, 1953 Callechelys striatus Smith, 1958 Callechelys striata Smith, 1958

References

1. Synonyms of Callechelys catostoma at www.fishbase.org.
2. Common names for Callechelys catostoma at www.fishbase.org.
3. Callechelys catostoma at www.fishbase.org.
4. Bloch, M. E. and J. G. Schneider, 1801 [ref. 471] M. E. Blochii, Systema Ichthyologiae Iconibus cx Ilustratum. Post obitum auctoris opus inchoatum absolvit, correxit, interpolavit Jo. Gottlob Schneider, Saxo. Berolini. Sumtibus Auctoris Impressum et Bibliopolio Sanderiano Commissum. i-lx + 1-584, Pls. 1-110.