​Sea serpent found on Mangawhai Beach

 

“I wouldn't like to come across it while swimming,” said Peter. “It was over two metres long with a big head and razor sharp teeth and a big mouth kind of like a barracuda. I haven't come across anything like this in New Zealand waters before so I would like to know if anyone else has, and can enlighten us all.”

Another feature are the many needle-like quills along it's body which are very sharp and maybe could render the fish poisonous.
The Mangawhai Focus contacted Reuben Pooley, Aquatic Systems Technician at Otago University.

“I believe this is what is commonly known as a Snake Eel or Serpent Eel – Ophisurus serpens,” said Mr Pooley. “Judging by the size and condition of it my guess would be that it is quite old for this species and has possibly died of natural causes as there was no sign of injury,” he said.
The fish identification book – Sea Fishes of New Zealand by Wade Doak – suggests that this is the longest eel found in NZ waters with an average length of 1.3m, reaching 2.5m long but usually no more than 5cm in diameter.

Mr Pooley reported having seen them poking just their head out of the sand whilst diving in the Mercury Bay area. They are apparently very wary critters and very hard to get close to without them disappearing back into their burrows, and they can shoot backwards just as fast as going forwards. Others have been landed though only on odd occasions in the past.

So, identification solved. Nonetheless it was a great find but a shame that it was found dead.