WoRMS taxon details
Ophichthidae Günther, 1870
- Subfamily Myrophinae Kaup, 1856
- Genus Ahlia Jordan & Davis, 1891
- Genus Asarcenchelys McCosker, 1985
- Genus Benthenchelys Fowler, 1934
- Genus Glenoglossa McCosker, 1982
- Genus Mixomyrophis McCosker, 1985
- Genus Muraenichthys Bleeker, 1853
- Genus Myrophis Lütken, 1852
- Genus Neenchelys Bamber, 1915
- Genus Pseudomyrophis Wade, 1946
- Genus Pylorobranchus McCosker & Chen, 2012
- Genus Schismorhynchus McCosker, 1970
- Genus Schultzidia Gosline, 1951
- Genus Scolecenchelys Ogilby, 1897
- Genus Skythrenchelys Castle & McCosker, 1999
- Genus Sympenchelys Hibino, Ho & Kimura, 2015
- Genus Aotea Phillipps, 1926 accepted as Scolecenchelys Ogilby, 1897
- Genus Hesperomyrus Myers & Storey, 1939 accepted as Myrophis Lütken, 1852
- Genus Holopterura Cope, 1871 accepted as Myrophis Lütken, 1852
- Genus Leptoconger Poey, 1880 accepted as Myrophis Lütken, 1852
- Genus Muaenichthys accepted as Muraenichthys Bleeker, 1853 (misspelling)
- Genus Myroplius accepted as Myrophis Lütken, 1852 (misspelling)
- Genus Myropterura Ogilby, 1897 accepted as Scolecenchelys Ogilby, 1897
- Genus Paramyrus Günther, 1870 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Schizmorhynchus accepted as Schismorhynchus McCosker, 1970 (misspelling)
- Genus Leptocephalus [Ophichthidae] (temporary name)
- Subfamily Ophichthinae Günther, 1870
- Genus Allips McCosker, 1972
- Genus Aplatophis Böhlke, 1956
- Genus Aprognathodon Böhlke, 1967
- Genus Apterichtus Duméril, 1806
- Genus Bascanichthys Jordan & Davis, 1891
- Genus Brachysomophis Kaup, 1856
- Genus Caecula Vahl, 1794
- Genus Callechelys Kaup, 1856
- Genus Caralophia Böhlke, 1955
- Genus Chauligenion McCosker & Okamoto, 2016
- Genus Cirrhimuraena Kaup, 1856
- Genus Cirricaecula Schultz, 1953
- Genus Dalophis Rafinesque, 1810
- Genus Echelus Rafinesque, 1810
- Genus Echiophis Kaup, 1856
- Genus Ethadophis Rosenblatt & McCosker, 1970
- Genus Evips McCosker, 1972
- Genus Gordiichthys Jordan & Davis, 1891
- Genus Hemerorhinus Weber & de Beaufort, 1916
- Genus Herpetoichthys Kaup, 1856
- Genus Hyphalophis McCosker & Böhlke, 1982
- Genus Ichthyapus Brisout de Barneville, 1847
- Genus Kertomichthys McCosker & Böhlke, 1982
- Genus Lamnostoma Kaup, 1856
- Genus Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853
- Genus Leptenchelys Myers & Wade, 1941
- Genus Letharchus Goode & Bean, 1882
- Genus Lethogoleos McCosker & Böhlke, 1982
- Genus Leuropharus Rosenblatt & McCosker, 1970
- Genus Luthulenchelys McCosker, 2007
- Genus Malvoliophis Whitley, 1934
- Genus Myrichthys Girard, 1859
- Genus Mystriophis Kaup, 1856
- Genus Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Ophisurus Lacepède, 1800
- Genus Oxystomus Rafinesque, 1810
- Genus Paraletharchus McCosker, 1974
- Genus Phaenomonas Myers & Wade, 1941
- Genus Phyllophichthus Gosline, 1951
- Genus Pisodonophis Kaup, 1856
- Genus Quassiremus Jordan & Davis, 1891
- Genus Rhinophichthus McCosker, 1999
- Genus Scytalichthys Jordan & Davis, 1891
- Genus Suculentophichthus Fricke, 2015
- Genus Xestochilus McCosker, 1998
- Genus Xyrias Jordan & Snyder, 1901
- Genus Yirrkala Whitley, 1940
- Genus Acanthenchelys Norman, 1922 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Achirophichthys Bleeker, 1864 accepted as Brachysomophis Kaup, 1856
- Genus Anguisurus Kaup, 1856 accepted as Lamnostoma Kaup, 1856
- Genus Antobrantia Pinto, 1970 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Apterichthus accepted as Apterichtus Duméril, 1806 (misspelling)
- Genus Apterichthys accepted as Apterichtus Duméril, 1806 (misspelling)
- Genus Brachysomorphis accepted as Brachysomophis Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Brachysonophis accepted as Brachysomophis Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Caecilia Lacepède, 1800 accepted as Apterichtus Duméril, 1806
- Genus Centrurophis Kaup, 1856 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Chlevastes Jordan & Snyder, 1901 accepted as Myrichthys Girard, 1859
- Genus Coecula accepted as Caecula Vahl, 1794 (unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling)
- Genus Cogrus Rafinesque, 1810 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Crotalopsis Kaup, 1860 accepted as Echiophis Kaup, 1856
- Genus Cryptopterus Kaup, 1860 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Cryptopterygium Ginsburg, 1951 accepted as Callechelys Kaup, 1856
- Genus Cyclophichthys Whitley, 1951 accepted as Elapsopis Kaup, 1856 accepted as Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853
- Genus Elapsopis Kaup, 1856 accepted as Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853 (synonym)
- Genus Elapsopsis accepted as Elapsopis Kaup, 1856 accepted as Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853 (misspelling)
- Genus Evipes accepted as Evips McCosker, 1972 (misspelling)
- Genus Lamnastoma accepted as Lamnostoma Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Lamnosoma accepted as Lamnostoma Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Lamnostomus accepted as Lamnostoma Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Leptorhynchus Smith, 1840 accepted as Ophisurus Lacepède, 1800
- Genus Liuranus accepted as Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853 (misspelling)
- Genus Machaerenchelys Fowler, 1938 accepted as Leiuranus Bleeker, 1853
- Genus Malviolophus accepted as Malvoliophis Whitley, 1934 (misspelling)
- Genus Microdonophis Kaup, 1856 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Microrhynchus Blache & Bauchot, 1972 accepted as Phaenomonas Myers & Wade, 1941
- Genus Muraenophis Lacepède, 1803 accepted as Gymnothorax Bloch, 1795
- Genus Muraenopsis Lesueur, 1856 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Myrichttys accepted as Myrichthys Girard, 1859 (misspelling)
- Genus Myrichtys accepted as Myrichthys Girard, 1859 (misspelling)
- Genus Myrus Kaup, 1856 accepted as Echelus Rafinesque, 1810
- Genus Notophtophis Castro-Aguirre & Suárez de los Cobos, 1983 accepted as Echiophis Kaup, 1856
- Genus Omochelys Fowler, 1918 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Ophichtchys accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789 (misspelling)
- Genus Ophichtys accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789 (misspelling)
- Genus Ophicthus accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789 (misspelling)
- Genus Ophisurapus Kaup, 1856 accepted as Apterichtus Duméril, 1806
- Genus Ophiurus accepted as Ophisurus Lacepède, 1800 (misspelling)
- Genus Ophychthus accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789 (misspelling)
- Genus Opichthus accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789 (misspelling)
- Genus Oxyodontichthys Poey, 1880 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Pantonora Smith, 1965 accepted as Yirrkala Whitley, 1940
- Genus Pisodonphis accepted as Pisodonophis Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Pisodontophis accepted as Pisodonophis Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Pisonodophis accepted as Pisodonophis Kaup, 1856 (unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling)
- Genus Pisoodonophis accepted as Pisodonophis Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Poecilocephalus Kaup, 1856 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Pogonophis Myers & Wade, 1941 accepted as Herpetoichthys Kaup, 1856
- Genus Pterurus Rafinesque, 1810 accepted as Dalophis Rafinesque, 1810
- Genus Rhinenchelys Blache & Bauchot, 1972 accepted as Ichthyapus Brisout de Barneville, 1847
- Genus Scytalophis Kaup, 1856 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Sphagebranchus Bloch, 1795 accepted as Caecula Vahl, 1794 (synonym)
- Genus Uranichthys Poey, 1867 accepted as Ophichthus Ahl, 1789
- Genus Verma Jordan & Evermann, 1896 accepted as Apterichtus Duméril, 1806
- Genus Jenkinsella accepted as Jenkinsiella Jordan & Evermann, 1905 accepted as Cirrhimuraena Kaup, 1856 (misspelling)
- Genus Ophichthys Swainson, 1839 accepted as Monopterus Lacepède, 1800 (synonym)
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
Not documented
Description Marine; coastal, estuaries and entering rivers. Distribution: tropical to warm temperate waters. Body serpentiform. Snout...
Description Marine; coastal, estuaries and entering rivers. Distribution: tropical to warm temperate waters. Body serpentiform. Snout subconic to pointed. Mouth subterminal to inferior. Nostrils well separated, posterior usually lying within or piercing the upper lip, opening into mouth. Tongue attached. Branchial opening small, slit or round. Branchiostegal rays 15-49 pairs, overlapping midventrally along the throat to form a jugostegalia. Neural spines poorly developed, when present. Hyomandibulae usually vertical, but may be inclined backward or forward. Lateral lines meeting dorsally at head level. Dorsal and anal, when present, confluent with or ending before caudal extremity (naked and hardened). Supraorbital pore on middle line. With or without pectoral fins. Pelvics absent. Vertebrae 110-270. [details]
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2025). FishBase. Ophichthidae Günther, 1870. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=125434 on 2025-04-01
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The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons
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Nomenclature
basis of record
van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
Taxonomy
taxonomy source
Van Der Laan, R.; Eschmeyer, W. N.; Fricke, R. (2014). Family-group names of Recent fishes. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 3882(1): 1-230., available online at https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 [details] Available for editors
[request]

Other
context source (PeRMS)
Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
additional source Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds). (2025). ECoF. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. <em>California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco.</em> Electronic version accessed dd mmm 2025., available online at http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp [details]
additional source Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds). (2025). ECoF. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. <em>California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco.</em> Electronic version accessed dd mmm 2025., available online at http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp [details]




Unreviewed
Description Marine; coastal, estuaries and entering rivers. Distribution: tropical to warm temperate waters. Body serpentiform. Snout subconic to pointed. Mouth subterminal to inferior. Nostrils well separated, posterior usually lying within or piercing the upper lip, opening into mouth. Tongue attached. Branchial opening small, slit or round. Branchiostegal rays 15-49 pairs, overlapping midventrally along the throat to form a jugostegalia. Neural spines poorly developed, when present. Hyomandibulae usually vertical, but may be inclined backward or forward. Lateral lines meeting dorsally at head level. Dorsal and anal, when present, confluent with or ending before caudal extremity (naked and hardened). Supraorbital pore on middle line. With or without pectoral fins. Pelvics absent. Vertebrae 110-270. [details]