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]

Death-banded snake eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Ophichthidae
Genus:	Ophichthus
Species:	O. frontalis
Binomial name
Ophichthus frontalis Garman, 1899
Synonyms[1]
Ophichthys frontalis Garman, 1899

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]