Juergen Freund / Clown / Napoleon snake eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) emerging from sand, Batangas, Philippines.

David Hall / Many-eyed snake eel (Ophichthus polyophthalmus), head peering out of burrow. Pantar, Alor Archipelago, Indonesia; November, 2006.

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Black-finned Snake Eel (Ophichthus melanochir) buried in sand, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Pascal Kobeh / Black finned snake eel (Ophichthus melanochir) buried in the sand, Sulu Sea, Philippines

Alex Mustard / Portrait of a Clown snake eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) emerging from the seabed. Ambon Bay, Ambon, Maluku Archipelago, Indonesia. Banda Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Portrait of a Clown snake eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) emerging from the seabed. Ambon Bay, Ambon, Maluku Archipelago, Indonesia. Banda Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean.

Constantinos Petrinos / Blackfin snake eel (Ophichthus altipennis) emerging from burrow, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Napoleon snake eel (Ophichthus bonaparte) swimming over sand. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Pascal Kobeh / Bonapart's / Napoleon snake eel (Ophichthus bonaparti) head sticking out of sand, Sulu Sea, Philippines

Pascal Kobeh / Bonapart's / Napoleon snake eels (Ophichthus bonaparti) heads above sea floor, Sula Sea, Philippines

Georgette Douwma / Napoleon snake eel (Ophychthus bonaparti) out of its burrow, swimming over sandy bottom. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Jeff Rotman / Close-up of High-Fin Snake Eel (Ophichthus altipennis). Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Celebes Sea, Indonesia