Crocodile Snake Eel

Brachysomophis crocodilinus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Brachysomophis
Species: Brachysomophis crocodilinus

The crocodile snake eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) is an ambush predator that buries itself in sand with only its toothy head showing. Its upturned mouth and small eyes give it a crocodile-like face.

It can grow to around 1 m. It waits motionless for small fish to pass, then strikes from below with surprising speed.

In the Philippines it is found on sandy and muddy slopes, a classic muck-diving find.

Photo: Dan Schofield, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist