Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Painted eel

The painted eel is an eel in the family Ophichthidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally under the genus Muraena. It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Bay of Biscay, the Republic of Congo, and the Mediterranean. It dwells at a depth range of 3 to 12 metres, and inhabits burrows formed in sand and mud sediments in coastal lagoons and estuaries. Males can reach a maximum total length of 100 centimetres (39 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 60 centimetres (24 in).

Last revised
Jul 27, 2026
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Painted eel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Ophichthidae
Genus: Echelus
Species:
E. myrus
Binomial name
Echelus myrus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms2
  • Muraena myrus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Echelus punctatus Rafinesque, 1810
  • Muraena longicollis Cuvier, 1816
  • Muraena vulgaris Kaup, 1856
  • Myrus vulgaris (Kaup, 1856)

The painted eel3 (Echelus myrus) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).4 It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally under the genus Muraena.5 It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Bay of Biscay, the Republic of Congo, and the Mediterranean. It dwells at a depth range of 3 to 12 metres (9.8 to 39.4 ft), and inhabits burrows formed in sand and mud sediments in coastal lagoons and estuaries. Males can reach a maximum total length of 100 centimetres (39 in), but more commonly reach a TL of 60 centimetres (24 in).4

The Painted eel is of minor commercial interest to fisheries.4 It has been recorded spawning in the Bay of Algiers during the months of August and September.6

References

References

  1. Tighe, K. (2015). "Echelus myrus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015 e.T194984A2371680. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T194984A2371680.en. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. Synonyms of Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Common names of Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.
  5. Linnaeus, C., 1758 (1 Jan.) [ref. 2787] Systema Naturae, Ed. X. (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) Holmiae. v. 1: i-ii + 1-824.
  6. Spawning for Echelus myrus at www.fishbase.org.