Death-banded snake-eel

The death-banded snake-eel[2] (Ophichthus frontalis) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).[3] It was described by Samuel Garman in 1899.[4] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including the central Gulf of California, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama.[3][5] It dwells at a depth range of 35–760 metres, and forms burrows in sandy and muddy bottoms. Males can reach a maximum total length of 86 centimetres.[3]

The species epithet "frontalis" is presumed to be derived from the Latin term for "forehead".[3] Due to its relatively wide distribution in the eastern Pacific region, lack of known threats, and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Death-banded snake-eel as Least Concern.[5]