Divefree

Fish

Crocodile Snake Eel

Brachysomophis crocodilinus

A burrowing sandflat eel with upward-set eyes and a mottled snout, ambushing prey from the seabed off KwaZulu-Natal.

Also known as crocodile eel, crocodile snake-eel, eel(crocodile snake)

Crocodile Snake Eel
Photo: Nigel Marsh · CC BY-NC 4.0
Typical size
Commonly 60-100 cm
Habitat
Sand and mud flats near reef
Depth
Shallow coastal to about 40 m

The crocodile snake eel spends its days buried in sand or mud with only its snout and eyes exposed, hence the name. Its eyes sit well forward and high on the head, giving it a reptilian look as it waits for small fish and crustaceans to pass. The body is long and cylindrical, coloured in mottled browns and reds that match the sediment.

Divers on sandy KwaZulu-Natal flats occasionally spot the protruding head at dusk. Though it looks alarming and has strong jaws, it is not aggressive and will retreat into its burrow if disturbed. It is rarely targeted by anglers and is of little food value, so any hooked fish is best released.