Genus Scolecenchelys

A genus with about 20 species found on sandy to muddy bottoms in warm-temperate to tropical seas of the Indo-Pacific.

Species share the following characteristics:
Body very long and slender, slightly compressed posteriorly; tip of tail bony. Head small, snout pointed; eyes small to moderate, positioned behind the mid-point of the upper jaw;  posterior nostril opening downwards on edge of upper lip, covered laterally by flap three preopercular sensory pores; two infraorbital sensory pores between the anterior and posterior nostrils.; mouth relatively large, reaching to beyond eye, lower jaw shorter than snout; teeth sharp, conical, in single to triple rows in upper-jaw and vomer; gill openings, lateral, restricted. Scales absent, lateral-line pores clearly visible, continuing almost to tail tip. Dorsal and anal fins long and low; caudal fin reduced; pectoral and pelvic fins absent.
, and share the following characteristics: pectoral fins absent; eye positioned behind the mid-point of the upper jaw; conical, pointed teeth arranged in single to triple rows in upper-jaw and vomer; posterior nostril situated on the inner fold or margin of the upper lip; three preopercular sensory pores; two infraorbital sensory pores between the anterior and posterior nostrils.