Chordata_Anguilliformes_True Eels

Phylum: Chordata | Subphylum: Vertebrata | Infraphylum: Gnathostomata | Parvphylum: Actinopterygii | Superorder: Elopomorpha | Class: Actinopteri | Order: Anguilliformes

Etymology:               Latin, anguila = eel + forma = shape

Common Name:        True Eels

General

• Contains 20 families and about 820 species
• Includes some very bizarre groups
• Include moray eels, conger eel and snake eels
• Spend most of their days in crevices, holes, or under ledges
• More likely to be free swimming at night
• The fossil record dates back to the Cretaceous about 100 million years ago.

Distinguishing Characteristics

• Are fish with snake-like bodies, usually long and slender, with long-based dorsal and anal fins that are continuous with the caudal fin (if present) in all but one species.
• All species lack pelvic fins, and some groups lack pectoral fins.
• Scales are usually absent, or if present, are embedded in skin.
• True eels range in size from about 5 cm to 4 metres in length, and
• All species pass through a pelagic, ribbon- or leaf-like larval stage called a leptocephalus larva.

Family:   Anguillidae                             Freshwater Eels                                                                                 

Family:   Chlopsidae                             False Morays                                    

Family:   Colocongridae                        Worm Eels or Short-tail Eels

Family:   Congridae                            Conger or Garden Eels    

Gorgasia sp. _ Garden Eels

Photo taken Kubu Indonesia on 17092015

Heteroconger hassi _ Spotted Garden Eels                                                      Heteroconger klausewitzi _ Galapagos Garden Eels

Photo taken Palau Micronesia on 08122023                                                    Photo taken Isla De Plata Ecuador on 06072023

Family:   Derichthyidae                         Longneck Eel                                                                                          

Family:   Heterenchelyidae                  Mud Eels                                                                                              

Family:   Moringuidae                          Spaghetti Eels or Worm Eels       

Family:   Muraenesocidae                   Pike Congers                                                                                           

Family:   Muraenidae                           Moray Eels  

Echidna nebulosa _ Snowflake_Eels

Photo taken Dauin Philippines on 01112018

Chelycore pardalis _ Dragon Moray

Photo taken Shimoda Japan on 27102025

Gymnothorax castaneus _ Chestnut Moray                  Gymnothorax chilospilus _ Whitelip Moray            Gymnothorax favagineus _ Laced Moray

Photo taken Isla De Plata Ecuador on 06072023                Photo taken Amed Indonesia on 20072022                  Photo taken Tulamben Indonesia on 17092015 

Gymnothorax fimbriatus _ Fimbriatus Moray                Gymnothorax flavimarginatus _ Yellowmargin_Moray         Gymnothorax javanicus _ Giant_Moray 

Photo taken Puerto Galera Philippines on 10102022             Photo taken Tulamben Indonesia on 17092015                                 Photo taken Palau_Micronesia on 08122023

Gymnothorax kidako _ Kidako Moray                              Gymnothorax meleagris _ Whitemouth Moray            Gymnothorax phasmatodes _ Ghost Moray

Photo taken Chiba Japan on 28102025                                        Photo taken Amed Indonesia on 19102023                            Photo taken Amed Indonesia on 16092024

Gymnothorax prasinus _ Australian Green Moray     Gymnothorax thyrsoideus _ White Eyed Moray             Gymnothorax zonipectis _ Barred-finMoray

Photo taken Bare Island NSW on 21092008                         Photo taken Nusa Penida Indonesia on 22102023                    Photo taken Tulamben Indonesia on 16092024

Muraena clepsydra _ Hourglass Moray 

Photo taken Isla de Plata Ecuador on 06072023

Rhinomuraena quaesita _ Ribbon Eel

Photo taken Kubu Indonesia on 17092015 

Family:   Myrocongridae                      Thin Eels                                                                                               

Family:   Nemichthyidae                      Snipe Eels                                                                                                

Family:   Nettastomatidae                   Duckbill Eels or Witch Eels     

Family:   Ophichthidae                         Snake Eels   

Scolecenchelys breviceps _ Longfinned Worm Eel 

Photo taken Blairgowrie Pier VIC on 16112014

Myrichthys colubrinus_Harlequin Snake Eel

Photo taken Amed Indonesia on 16102023

 Ophichtus altipennis_Black-FinnedSnake Eel              Ophichtus bonparti_Napoleon Snake Eel

Photo taken Dauin Philippines on 17092016                             Photo taken Dauin Philippines on 29042025

Family:   Protanguillidae                      Palauan primitive cave eel                                                              

Family:   Serrivomeridae                     Sawtooth eels                                                                                    

Family: Synaphobranchidae                Cutthroat eels

References

• Dianne J. Bray, Eels, ANGUILLIFORMES in Fishes of Australia, accessed 08 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/order/2
• Fishbase 2026. Fishbase. Order Summary for Anguilliformes at https://www.fishbase.se/Summary/OrdersSummary.php?order=Anguilliformes on 11.06.2026