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Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) — Congridae

Red Sea garden eel

Gorgasia sillneri
Family: Congridae

The Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 84 cm.

Length
83.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Red Sea garden eel is a garden eel (Congridae) from coastal waters of the Red Sea. The species grows to about 84 cm and has a very slender, snake-shaped body. It lives in colonies in self-dug vertical burrows in sandy bottoms near reefs, from which it protrudes its forebody to snap at zooplankton drifting with the current; when threatened it withdraws fully into the burrow. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Red Sea garden eel?

The Red Sea garden eel has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Red Sea garden eel live?

The Red Sea garden eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Red Sea garden eel get?

The Red Sea garden eel grows to a maximum of about 84 cm.

Is the Red Sea garden eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Red Sea garden eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Rode Zee-tuinaal sourced
English name
Red Sea garden eel sourced
Scientific name
Gorgasia sillneri
Family
Congridae

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
83.8 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Gorgasia

More from the family Congridae

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