Napoleon Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) - Marine Life - Liveaboard Diving

Napoleon Snake Eel

The Napoleon Snake Eel is also known as the Purple-Banded Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti). During the day, divers normally only get to see the eel's head, which has a pattern that is often attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, hence the scientific name of the species. And divers lucky enough to see the whole eel will see that its body has very different markings to its head, like large bands or blotches.

 

Napoleon or Purplebanded Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) hiding in the sand
Napoleon Snake Eel or Purplebanded Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti)
Credit: Johan Folmeus
The head of a Napoleon Snake Eel or Purplebanded Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti)
Napoleon or Purplebanded Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti)
Napoleon or Purplebanded Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) Indonesia
Napoleon Snake Eel or Purplebanded Snake Eel (Ophichthus bonaparti)
Napoleon Snake Eel Ophichthus bonaparti
Scientific Rank
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata (Chordates)
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes (Eels)
Family: Ophichthidae (Ophichthidae)
Genus: Ophichthus (Ophichthus)
Species: Ophichthus bonaparti
Size
Average Size: 70 centimetres

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