The shortdorsal cutthroat eel (Synaphobranchus brevidorsalis) is a cutthroat eel in the family Synaphobranchidae described by Albert Günther in 1887. It dwells at a depth range of 900 to 3,000 metres (3,000 to 9,800 ft), most often between 1,000 to 2,500 metres (3,300 to 8,200 ft), and leads a benthic lifestyle, inhabiting the continental slope.

It is also known as the shortfin cutthroat eel, shortdorsal eel, or snake eel.

It resembles the other ones in the genus, but it is much larger.

It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific and western central Atlantic Ocean, including Zanzibar, Maldives, Australia, Japan, Suriname, and the Gulf of Mexico. The shortdorsal cutthroat eel lives in the benthopelagic, marine, depth range 900 - 3000 m , usually 1000 - 2500 m environment.

1. Synonyms of Synaphobranchus brevidorsalis at www.fishbase.org.
2. ^ Common names for Synaphobranchus brevidorsalis at www.fishbase.org.
3. ^ Jump up to:^{a b} Synaphobranchus brevidorsalis at www.fishbase.org.
4. ^ Günther, A., 1887 (before 11 Oct.) [ref. 2013] Report on the deep-sea fishes collected by H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873-76. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger v. 22 (pt 57): i-lxv + 1-268, Pls. 1-66.

• Electric eel