General Description
Body very slender, snake-like, tapering to a point, with low dorsal and anal fins barely reaching tail tip, small prominent pectoral fins and long slender jaws, the upper extending beyond the lower. Greenish to sandy-brown, juveniles silvery. To 2.5 m.
Biology
Juveniles are found in bays and estuaries, often with their heads protruding from the sand, while adults live offshore. They have powerful jaws armed with sharp teeth and should be handled with great care.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
Temperate waters, burrowing into sandy and silty bottoms in bays, estuaries and along the coast, in depths of 0-550 m.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Slender eel.
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Maximum Size
2.5 m
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Habitats
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
DSE Advisory List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Depths
Shore (0-1 m), Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Linnaeus, 1758)
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Common Name
Serpent Eel
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Superclass
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
serpens