speckled worm-eel
Myrophis punctatus
Pale brown eel of bays, mangroves and seagrass beds, widely used as bait. It is not dangerous to anglers.
Also called: cutuca, muriongo, safio pecoso, speckled worm eel
- maximum
- 35 cm
- depth
- 0–100 m
who is the speckled worm-eel
Snake eel of the family Ophichthidae, with a long, rounded body, reaching 35.3 cm. It lives in bays, mangroves, estuaries and seagrass beds, and also on reefs far from the coast, down to 100 m. It tolerates slightly salty water, enters tidal channels and, in some countries, has been recorded in fresh water. Adults go to the open sea to spawn. It has a great capacity to regenerate. In fishing, it is mainly used as bait.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the speckled worm-eel; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- On the northern coast of Brazil, it is caught for bait, sometimes with plants that poison the fish.
identification
Pale brown eel, with fine small black dots scattered over the back and sides, and a lighter underside. The pattern is of fine dots, not large blotches with pale centers, as in the goldspotted eel (Myrichthys ocellatus), which lives on the same coast.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
It lives from North Carolina and Bermuda to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and northern Brazil, in bays, mangroves and seagrass beds.
Habitat: Bays, mangroves, estuaries and seagrass beds, from shallow waters to reefs down to 100 m.
coast
rules for the speckled worm-eel
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It is not dangerous, but it is slippery and has teeth. Hold it just behind the head and release it carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00076, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Myrophis punctatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Myrophis punctatusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
