Gorgasia preclara

The splendid garden eel (Gorgasia preclara) or orange-barred garden eel, is a species of marine garden eel.

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

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. Harper 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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