FOWLER'S SNAKE EEL
Ophichthus fowleri (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)
     Andy Barnes found this sand-dwelling snake eel at about 70 ft. off Portlock on Nov. 9, 2003. He sent me this photo and asked what it was, mentioning that it resembled the Freckled Snake Eel (Callechelys luteus), but that it was larger, at least 3 inches in diameter. I found a photo that looked like it in Tinker's classic book Fishes of Hawaii under the name Microdonophis fowleri. That species was originally described in 1903 by ichthylogists David Starr Jordan and Barton W. Evermann, who named it for a fellow ichthylogist, Henry W. Fowler. After Tinker published his book, however, the genus Microdonophis was merged with Ophichthus, thus the correct name now is Ophichthus fowleri. I sent the photo to Dr Randall of the Bishop Museum, who confirmed the ID. Dr. Randall mentioned that this species has been confused in various books with Ophichthus erabo and Ophichthus polyophthalmus.
      Not much is known about this eel. Tinker writes that it is "a large beautiful species with an elongated cylindrical body, a head of moderate size, and the usual pointed tail. The color of the body is light with many round brown spots and about 16 faint, darker vertical crossbars." It grows to about 40 inches and is known only from the Hawaiian chain. Congratulations, Andy, for the rare sighting, and thanks for sharing your photo.
     Update 3/29/0: Below is another photo taken by Jeff McManus in February 2005 while diving with Bubbles Below Scuba Charters at Lehua Rock, near Niihau.


photo byJeff McManus