The dark deepwater snake eelCommon names for Ophichthus aphotistos at www.fishbase.org. (Ophichthus aphotistos) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae.Ophichthus aphotistos at www.fishbase.org. It was described by John E. McCosker and Chen Yu-Yun in 2000.McCosker, J. E. and Y.-Y. Chen, 2000 [ref. 25028] A new species of deepwater snake-eel, Ophichthus aphotistos, with comments on Neenchelys retropinna (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Taiwan. Ichthyological Research v. 47 (no. 4): 353-357. It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from Taiwan, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 36–1350 m (most commonly 250–350 m), and inhabits sand and mud. Specimens have been observed in burrows with only their heads exposed, or resting on sediment with their bodies curved in an S shape. Females can reach a maximum total length of 62.8 cm.
The specific epithet aphotistos, meaning dark or obscure, refers both to the eel's appearance and its habitat.
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