Scolecenchelys japonica is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels). It was described by Yoshihiko Machida and Suguru Ohta in 1993, originally under the genus Muraenichthys. It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from Mishima Island, Japan, (from which its species epithet is derived) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It is known to dwell at a depth range of 74 to 78 metres (243 to 256 ft). Males can reach a maximum total length of 19.7 centimetres (7.8 in).