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 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
- ↑ Burgess, W.E., H.R. Axelrod and R.E. Hunziker III, 1990. Dr. Burgess's Atlas der Meerwasser Aquarium Fische. Bede Verlag, Kollnburg, Germany.
- ↑ Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 p.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
- ↑ Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 p.
- ↑ 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.