Snipe eels are a family, Nemichthyidae, of eels that consists of nine species in three genera. They are pelagic fishes, found in every ocean, mostly at depths of 300–600 m (980–1,970 ft) but sometimes as deep as 4,000 m (13,000 ft).

Snipe eels have birdlike beaks covered with tiny, hooked teeth — perfect for snaring the antennae of tasty shrimp.

Often referred to as the deep sea duck, the slender snipe eel can weigh only a few ounces but reach lengths up to 5 feet. Learn more.

Various species of snipe eels have been caught—either alone or in the bellies of other fish—in waters as deep as 4,500 meters (14,800 feet). They’re most commonly found between 300 to 600 meters, or about 1,000 to 2,000 feet.

Deep-water; 55°N - 42°S, 180°W - 180°E. Worldwide in tropical and temperate seas. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Spain to South Africa, including western Mediterranean (Ref. 3247); reported from Iceland (Ref. 12462). Regularly found in the Skagerrak (Ref. 35387).

Snipe Eels, primarily belonging to the family Nemichthyidae, are slender, elongated eels characterized by their slender bodies and long, beak-like jaws. These creatures might be mistaken for drifting seaweed if not observed closely due to their thin, elongated frames and camouflaging abilities.

The slender snipe eel (Nemichthys scolopaceus), also known as the deep sea duck, is a fish that can weigh only a few ounces, yet reach 5 feet or 1.5 m in length.

Oct 8, 2023 · Slender snipe eels are one of nine species of snipe eels, which are found in warmer waters all around the planet. They live in the open ocean, away from land. Most are found at depths of 1,000 to 2,000 feet, but some have been recorded more than two miles deep.

The snipe eel, known to science as Nemichthys scolopaceus, is a rather peculiar looking fish. It has a long body, up to four feet in length, and resembles a long piece of ribbon or string with a large bulbous head at one end.

One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps.