Stargazer Snake Eel, Brachysomophis cirrocheilos (Bleeker 1857)

A Stargazer Snake Eel, Brachysomophis cirrocheilos, at Dumaguete, Philippines. Source: Elias Levy / Flickr. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:

A whitish to pale reddish brown snake eel with speckling and irregular brown smudges or saddles along back and sides.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray, Brachysomophis cirrocheilos in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1997

Stargazer Snake Eel, Brachysomophis cirrocheilos (Bleeker 1857)

More Info

Distribution	Recorded in Australia from Broome, WA, to Cooktown, QLD. Occurs elsewhere in the tropical, Indo-west Pacific.
Features	Vertebrae 135-140. A moderately elongate eel, tail 51-58% SL, head 11-14% TL; dorsal head profile nearly flat from mid-head to snout tip; snout moderate, about 3.2 in jaw; jaws elongate, lower jaw extending beyond snout; nostrils close together in very short tubes on upper lip; labial fringe well-developed, numerous short cirri on lips with cauliflower-like projections on tips; outer row of maxillary teeth not visible when jaws closed. Middle of eye behind anterior 40% of jaw; interorbital space and top of head flat, head pores inconspicuous; free sensory neuromasts not visible on nape; teeth conical. Dorsal fin arising well behind pectoral-fin tips; pectoral fins not elongate.
Species Citation	Ophisurus cirrocheilos Bleeker, 1857, Acta Soc. Scient. Indo-Neerland. 2: 89. Type locality: Ambon, Indonesia.
Author	Dianne J. Bray

Stargazer Snake Eel, Brachysomophis cirrocheilos (Bleeker 1857)

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls.

Bleeker, P. 1857. Achtste bijdrage tot de kennis der vischfauna van Amboina. Acta Societatis Scientiarum Indo-Neerlandicae 2: 1-102.

McCosker, J.E. 1977. The osteology, classification, and relationships of the eel family Ophichthidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 41(1): 1-123 figs 1-45

McCosker, J.E. & Randall, J.E. 2001. Revision of the snake-eel genus Brachysomophis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with description of two new species and comments on the species of Mystriophis. Indo-Pacific Fishes 33: 1-32.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.