Banded or Ringed or Harlequin Snake Eel (Myrichthys colubrinus), family Ophichthidae, order Angulliformes, Lembeh, Indonesia

Bright red might not be the go-to color for camouflage, but the reptilian snake eel makes it work! That's because they are a primarily nocturnal species, and red light is absorbed by water, so that anything red actually appears dark or black! This species is an ambush predator, hiding in dug-out burrows till an unlucky fish swims by.

A crocodile snake eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) buries itself in the sand waiting to strike off the coast of Alor, Indonesia

Angry Worm Eel Skythrenchelys zabra

Reptilian snake eel (Brachysomophis henshawi)

A highfin snake eel (Ophichthus altipennis) in Bitung, Indonesia

Spooktober

Crocodile Snake Eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus)-

These eels can be found in the shallows of tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific region, through Australia, and the coast of Japan. Crocodile snake eels have been found in bright orange red, spotted brown, pale skeleton white, or a mixture of any of these colors.

Male eels can grow to just under 4 feet long. They are called snake/worm eels because they have only very small fins near their heads, and a short dorsal fin running along their bodies. Only occasionally venturing out at night, the crocodile snake eel spends most of its time hiding in sandy reefs. With its snake like eyes and sensitive snout exposed just over the sand, it lies in wait to ambush prey. They have long, wide mouths and sharp, conical teeth that help to snatch slippery fish and octopus. The individual in the bottom right photo has attacked a fish too large, and died trying to swallow it.