Leptocephalus echeloides D’Ancona (1928a), a deepwater snake eel, is referred to Ophichthus, subfamily Ophichthinae, and described from an adult specimen captured by trammel net at 300 m from Eilat, Red Sea. It is compared to related ophichthids from the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea and differs from all known ophichthines in the condition of its dentition, dorsal fin origin, numerous head pores, coloration, and low vertebral number.