Ophichthidae is a family of fish in the order Anguilliformes, commonly known as the snake eels. The term "Ophichthidae" comes from Greek ophis ("serpent") and ichthys ("fish"). Snake eels are also burrowing eels. They are named for their physical appearance, as they have long, cylindrical, snake-like bodies. This family is found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate waters. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from coastal shallows and even rivers, to depths below .
These species range in total length from to or more. Many species lack fins altogether, improving their ability to burrow into the substrate like worms. They are often spotted or striped in colour, mimicking the appearance of venomous sea snakes to deter predators.
- Schismorhynchus <small>McCosker, 1970</small>
- Schultzidia <small>Gosline, 1951</small>
- Scolecenchelys <small>Ogilby, 1897</small>
- Skythrenchelys <small>Castle & McCosker, 1999</small>
- Sympenchelys <small>Hibino, H. C. Ho & Kimura, 2015</small>
- Subfamily Ophichthinae <small>Günther, 1870</small>
- Allips <small>McCosker, 1972</small>
- Aplatophis <small>Böhlke, 1956</small>
- Aprognathodon <small>Böhlke, 1967</small>
- Apterichtus <small>A. M. C. Duméril, 1805</small>
- Bascanichthys <small>D. S. Jordan & Davis, 1891</small>
- Brachysomophis <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Caecula <small>Vahl, 1794</small>
- Callechelys <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Caralophia <small>Böhlke, 1955</small>
- Chauligenion <small>McCosker & Okamoto, 2016</small>
- Cirrhimuraena <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Cirricaecula <small>Schultz, 1953</small>
- Dalophis <small>Rafinesque, 1810</small>
- Echelus <small>Rafinesque, 1810</small>
- Echiophis <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Ethadophis <small>Rosenblatt & McCosker, 1970</small>
- Evips <small>McCosker, 1972</small>
- Gordiichthys <small>D. S. Jordan & Davis, 1891</small>
- Hemerorhinus <small>Weber & de Beaufort, 1916</small>
- Herpetoichthys <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Hyphalophis <small>McCosker & Böhlke, 1982</small>
- Ichthyapus <small>Brisout de Barneville, 1847</small>
- Kertomichthys <small>McCosker & Böhlke, 1982</small>
- Lamnostoma <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Leiuranus <small>Bleeker, 1852</small>
- Leptenchelys <small>Myers & Wade, 1941</small>
- Letharchus <small>Goode & T. H. Bean, 1882</small>
- Lethogoleos <small>McCosker & Böhlke, 1982</small>
- Leuropharus <small>Rosenblatt & McCosker, 1970</small>
- Luthulenchelys <small>McCosker, 2007</small>
- Malvoliophis <small>Whitley, 1934</small>
- Myrichthys <small>Girard, 1859</small>
- Mystriophis <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Ophichthus <small>Ahl, 1789</small>
- Ophisurus <small>Lacépède, 1800</small>
- Paraletharchus <small>McCosker, 1974</small>
- Phaenomonas <small>Myers & Wade, 1941</small>
- Phyllophichthus <small>Gosline, 1951</small>
- Pisodonophis <small>Kaup, 1856</small>
- Quassiremus <small>D. S. Jordan & Davis, 1891</small>
- Rhinophichthus <small>McCosker, 1999</small>
- Scytalichthys <small>Jordan & Davis, 1891</small>
- Stictorhinus <small>Böhlke & McCosker, 1975</small>
- Suculentophichthus <small>R. Fricke, Golani & Appelbaum-Golani, 2015</small>
- Xestochilus <small>McCosker, 1998</small>
- Xyrias <small>Jordan & Snyder, 1901</small>
- Yirrkala <small>Whitley, 1940</small>
Fossil genera
thumb|Fossil specimen of [[Goslinophis]]
The following fossil genera are also known:
- †Asanoa <small>Sytchevskaya & Prokofiev, 2004</small> (earliest Eocene of Turkmenistan)
- †Eomyrus <small>Storms, 1896</small> (middle Eocene of Belgium)
- †Palaeomyrus <small>Casier, 1967</small> (early Eocene of Germany)