Myrichthys colubrinus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Myrichthys
Species:
M. colubrinus
Binomial name
Myrichthys colubrinus
(Boddaert, 1781)

Myrichthys colubrinus, the banded snake eel, ringed snake eel or harlequin snake eel, is a snake eel from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 97 cm (38 in) in length.[1]

The ringed snake eel resembles the venomous sea snake, Laticauda colubrina which is a form of Batesian mimicry.[2] It also adjusts its behaviour to swim freely during the day, whereas other snake eels tend to stay hidden and roam at night.

In 2021, it was first recorded in Hawaii.[3]

References

  1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2008). "Myrichthys colubrinus" in FishBase. December 2008 version.
  2. Randall, J. E. (2005). A review of mimicry in marine fishes. Zoological Studies, 44(3), 299–328.
  3. "Harlequin Snake Eel, Myrichthys colubrinus". www.marinelifephotography.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.


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