Sea snake or eel??

[wiley]

I haven't run accross this guy before. I found him diggin' in the sand off Saba. What is he??

(This is my first attempt at posting from my website so bear with me if it doesn't work the first time)

 

[SA-Diver]

Looks like a spotted snake eel.

I did a google search for 'spotted snake eel'
and found an number of pics similar to the one you saw.

Kobus

 

[wiley]

I guess my website can't be linked properly to SB. I guess you have to just go to page 5 on my site. Upper left and lower right.... Sorry again.
www.underwaterphotoshop.com

 

[5615mike]

Another vote for eel. Very cool. Have only seen them at night myself.

 

[SA-Diver]

Your first link worked for me.

 

[Walter]

It's a snake eel. There are no sea snakes in the Caribbean. They do move and look very much like snakes.

 

[gfisher4792]

My guess is an eel. I'm no marine biology expert, but I don't think sea snakes have a large dorsal fin running down their back.

 

[caymaniac]

The common name is "snake eel" and if you look close while the snake eel is swimming by you, you'll notice the beautiful irridescent blue scrawl on its head. I've seen many of these through out the Carribean.

Caymaniac

 

[Grajan]

This may be in the snake eel family but I am pretty sure the name is Sharp Tailed Eel. There are a bunch of other images here:

http://images.google.com/images?q="sharp+tailed+eel"&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search

 

[Walter]

Grajan,

You are correct, it is a Sharp Tailed Eel, which is one of many species of snake eel.