Ophichthidae

Long-finned worm eel

Scolecenchelys breviceps

Traditional food skinned and dried

• Temperate
• Southern Hemisphere
• Regional distribution
• Marine fish
• Indian Ocean
• Pacific Ocean
• Oceania
• Anguilliform
• Large
• Temperate fish

The long-finned worm eel or short-headed worm eel, Scolecenchelys breviceps, is a snake eel of the genus Scolecenchelys, found in southern Australia between Rottnest Island and Tasmania, and around New Zealand, to depths of about 50 m, on sandy or muddy bottoms. Its length is between 40 and 60 cm. The long-finned worm eel is a Māori traditional delicacy, and is skinned and dried mainly outdoors for a period not exceeding longer than 3 months.