{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{For|the aquatic salamander|Siren reticulata}} {{Speciesbox |image=Sans queue ....jpg |status=LC |status_system=IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Tighe, K. |year=2015 |title=''Myrichthys pardalis'' |article-number=e.T198998A2548462 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198998A2548462.en |access-date=13 November 2024}}</ref> |genus=Myrichthys |species=pardialis |authority=(Valenciennes, 1839) |synonyms_ref=<ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/Nomenclature/SynonymsList.php?ID=9089&SynCode=27294&GenusName=Myrichthys&SpeciesName=pardalis Synonyms of ''Myrichthys pardalis''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> |synonyms=* ''Ophisurus pardalis'' <small>Valenciennes, 1839</small> * ''Ophichthys pardalis'' <small>(Valenciennes, 1839)</small> * ''Myrichthys perdalis'' <small>(Valenciennes, 1839)</small> }}
The '''leopard eel''' ('''''Myrichthys pardalis''''') is an eel in the worm or snake eels family, Ophichthidae.<ref name=fishbasecn>[http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=9089&GenusName=Myrichthys&SpeciesName=pardalis&StockCode=9410 Common names of ''Myrichthys pardalis''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref><ref name="Fishbase">[http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Myrichthys-pardalis.html ''Myrichthys pardalis''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1839, originally under the genus ''Ophisurus''.<ref name="Valenciennes, 1839">Valenciennes, A., 1837-44 [ref. 4502] ''Ichthyologie des îles Canaries, ou histoire naturelle des poissons rapportés par Webb & Berthelot.'' In: P. B. Webb & S. Berthelot. Histoire naturelle des îles Canaries. Paris, 1835-1850. v. 2 (pt 2): 1-109, 26 pls.</ref>
Male leopard eels can reach a maximum total length of {{cvt|64.8|cm|in}}.<ref name="Fishbase"/> It is of minor commercial interest to fisheries.<ref name="Fishbase"/>
It is a marine, tropical eel, which is known from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Canary Islands, Annobón Island, Equatorial Guinea, and São Tomé Island. It forms burrows in coarse sand sediments on rocky island coasts. The species is also found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The leopard eel's diet consists of benthic invertebrates.<ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItemsList.php?vstockcode=9410&genus=Myrichthys&species=pardalis Food items reported for ''Myrichthys pardalis''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sealifephotos|275488}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2204706}}
leopard eel Category:Fish of the East Atlantic Category:Vertebrates of the Canary Islands Category:Fish of Equatorial Guinea Category:Fauna of Annobón Category:Fauna of São Tomé Island Category:Marine fish of West Africa leopard eel