Settling Snake Eel

This photo likely shows a settling Sharptail Eel or settling Goldspotted Eel.

This is a young eel found on the sandy bottom as it begins its adult life. At this stage, the eel's body looks like an adult, but its colors and patterns may not be fully developed yet, making it hard to identify.

Snake eels start as larvae called leptocephali, which are clear and leaf-shaped. They drift in the ocean for weeks or months. When ready, they transform into small juvenile eels and move to the sea floor. At this young stage, they search for safe places to hide from predators and continue growing into adults.