Family : Ophichthidae (Snake eels) , subfamily: Ophichthinae
Order : Anguilliformes  (eels and morays)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Rice-paddy eel
Fish Name : Pisodonophis boro
Max size : 100.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 3972)
Environment : demersal; anadromous
Climate : tropical
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; bait: usually
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Somalia (Ref. 30573) and Tanzania to Natal (South Africa), southern India and Sri Lanka. Also widespread elsewhere from the east Indian coast through Indonesia to Polynesia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Vertebrae: 171-173. Olive brown above, lighter below (Ref. 3972). Body snake-like, cylindrical, compressed only along extreme tail tip; anterior nostril tubular, posterior along lower edge of lip; teeth granular to molariform, multiserial bands on jaws and vomer, but sharper on jaws and more pointed in young individuals; median fins not continuous posteriorly; extreme tip of tail stiff and finless; dorsal fin origin about a pectoral fin length behind tips of pectoral fins; lateral line inconspicuous (Ref. 4832).
Biology : Found in lagoons and estuaries, entering freshwater and paddy fields (Ref. 30573). Common in tidal reaches and nearby upstream areas of coastal rivers (Ref. 12693). Lives in holes in the river bottom and bank and actively forages for small fishes at night (Ref. 12693). Reported to spawn in rice-paddies during the rainy season (Ref. 12693). Caught in bag nets and similar gear. Marketed fresh
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : McCosker, John
Main Ref : Castle, P.H.J.. 1984. (Ref. 3508)

India country information
Common Names : Rice-paddy eel, മലഞ്ഞില്, Bengal's snake-eel, Malanjil
Status : native
Salinity : freshwater, brackish, marine
Uses : no uses