Snipe Eels, Family Nemichthyidae

  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    07/04/22
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Snipe Eel Avocettina sp. Click to enlarge image
A Snipe Eel, Avocettina sp, captured during the NORFANZ edpedition, May 2003. Image: Robin McPhee
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Family
    Nemichthyidae
    Order
    Anguilliformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Number of Species
    3
  • Size Range
    The Slender Snipe Eel, Nemichthys scolopaceus, grows up to 1.22 m in length.

Standard Common Name

Snipe Eel

Number of species

There are three known genera of Snipe Eel, Avocettina Jordan & Davis, 1891, Labichthys Gill & Ryder, 1883 and Nemichthys Richardson, 1848. Three species of occur off the New South Wales coast.

Identification

The Snipe Eels can be recognised by their extremely elongate bodies and long, thin, outward curving jaws.

Size range

The Slender Snipe Eel, Nemichthys scolopaceus, grows up to 1.22 m in length.

Habitat

Snipe Eels occur in the deep midwaters (in the open water, not near the surface or the bottom). They have been recorded in depths down to 1830 m.

Feeding and Diet

There are tiny backward-pointing teeth along both jaws. Snipe eels swim through deep ocean waters with the mouth open. When an antenna (feeler) of a crustacean enters the open jaws, it is caught on the teeth and the crustacean is "pulled" ratchet-fashion into the mouth of the snipe eel.