Gorgasia preclara

Splendid garden eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Congridae
Subfamily: Heterocongrinae
Genus: Gorgasia
Species: G. preclara
Binomial name
Gorgasia preclara
J. E. Böhlke & J. E. Randall, 1981

Gorgasia preclara, commonly called splendid garden eel or orange-barred garden eel, is a species of marine garden eel.

Description

The splendid garden eel is a medium-sized fish, up to 40 cm maximum length.[1] Its body has a circular shape with a diameter of about 10 mm.[2] Its body color is yellow to orange with characteristic white bands.

Distribution and habitat

G. preclara is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific area from the Maldives to Indonesian archipelago and the Papua New Guinea and north to Ryukyu, Japanese archipelagos, and south to the Philippines.[3] It occurs in sandy areas exposed to currents at depths between 18 and 75 m, but is usually observed at an average depth of 30 m.[4]

Biology

The splendid garden eel lives in a buried tube in the sand either alone or in small groups.[5] Typically, only its head and uppermost body protrudes from the sand, and it will retreat entirely if approached by large fish or divers. They feed on drifting plankton.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Burgess, W.E., H.R. Axelrod and R.E. Hunziker III, 1990. Dr. Burgess's Atlas der Meerwasser Aquarium Fische. Bede Verlag, Kollnburg, Germany.
  2. ↑ Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 p.
  3. ↑ Castle, P.H.J. and J.E. Randall 1999 Revision of Indo-Pacific garden eels (Congridae: Heterocongrinae), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (30):52 p.
  4. ↑ Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
  5. ↑ Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 p.
  6. ↑ Myers, R.F., 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 p.


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