Fish
Sharptail Eel
Myrichthys brevicepsAlso known as Sharptail Snake Eel, Sharptail Snake-eel
Sharptail eels are docile snake eels that spend daylight hours burrowed tail-first into soft sand, leaving only their snout and watchful eyes exposed. As dusk arrives, they emerge to glide along reef edges and seagrass beds, using highly sensitive olfactory pits to track down prey hidden in the sediment. Their pointed, hard-tipped tails function as specialized anchors and drills, allowing them to reverse seamlessly into loose substrates when threatened.
MarineNocturnalReef Dweller
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCrabs, Mantis Shrimp, Small Benthic Fish
Predators
- Great Barracuda
- Caribbean Reef Shark
- Goliath Grouper
ThreatsCoastal development, coral reef degradation, and boat-anchor damage
HabitatsCoral reefs, seagrass meadows, and shallow sandy flats
Life span5–10 years
Classification
- OrderAnguilliformes
- FamilyOphichthidae
- GenusMyrichthys
- SpeciesMyrichthys breviceps
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May deliver a sharp nip if grabbed or cornered; observe calmly without reaching into sand burrows.
Responsible observation
- Snorkeling Observation: Look for their distinctive pale spots and yellow-rimmed snouts resting along sand channels near patch reefs.
- Sand Etiquette: Avoid stomping or digging into sandy blowouts near grass beds where they rest buried during the day.
Neighbor (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pauline Walsh Jacobson · cc-by
Predator Hectonichus / CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close Relative (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableSame Family
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Coral Currents
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