The long-finned worm eel or short-headed worm eel, ''Scolecenchelys breviceps'', is a

snake eel Ophichthidae is a family of fish in the order Anguilliformes, commonly known as the snake eels. The term "Ophichthidae" comes from Greek ''ophis'' ("serpent") and ''ichthys'' ("fish"). Snake eels are also burrowing eels. They are named for their ...

of the genus ''

Scolecenchelys ''Scolecenchelys'' is a genus of eels in the snake eel family (biology), family Ophichthidae. Species There are currently 21 recognized species in this genus: * ''Scolecenchelys acutirostris'' (Max Carl Wilhelm Weber, M. C. W. Weber & Lieven Fer ...

'', found in southern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

between

Rottnest Island Rottnest Island (), often colloquially referred to as "Rotto", is a Islands of Perth, Western Australia, island off the coast of Western Australia, located west of Fremantle. A sandy, low-lying island formed on a base of aeolianite limestone, ...

and

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

, and around

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, to depths of about 50 m, on sandy or muddy bottoms. Its length is between 40 and 60 cm. The Long-finned worm eel is a Maori traditional delicacy, and is skinned and dried mainly outdoors for a period not exceeding longer than 3 months. The eel is not dangerous to humans, but can pack a fight in the sense of it feeling threatened, where it will nip the person or other mammal as a sense of protection. These eels are also very difficult to handle by hand and can be without water for up to 6 or more hours. The Long-finned worm eel is nocturnal, venturing out at night to hunt for invertebrates.Dianne J. Bray, 2011, Shorthead Worm Eel, Scolecenchelys breviceps, in Fishes of Australia, accessed 25 Aug 2014, http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3144

References

External links

* * * Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'', (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q284057 Scolecenchelys Fish described in 1876 Taxa named by Albert Günther