The surf eel (Ichthyapus ophioneus), also known as the Finless snake eel in the United States,Common names of Ichthyapus ophioneus at www.fishbase.org. is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).Ichthyapus ophioneus at www.fishbase.org. It was described by Barton Warren Evermann and Millard Caleb Marsh in 1900, originally under the genus Sphagebranchus.Evermann, B. W. and M. C. Marsh, 1900 (29 Dec.) [ref. 14876] The fishes of Porto Rico. Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission v. 20 (pt 1) [for 1900]: 49-350, Pls. 1-49. It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, including Bermuda, the Bahamas, Florida, USA; Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, northern South America, and St. Helena Island. It dwells at a maximum depth of , most often between , and forms burrows in sand bottoms in surf areas, from which its common name is derived. Males can reach a maximum total length of .
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