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Short worm eel (Moringua abbreviata) — Moringuidae

Short worm eel

Moringua abbreviata
Family: Moringuidae
LC · Least Concern

The Short worm eel (Moringua abbreviata) is a saltwater fish of the family Moringuidae that grows up to 33 cm.

Length
33 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The short worm eel is a worm eel (Moringuidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species has an extremely thin, worm-shaped, almost colourless body with strongly reduced eyes and fins, adapted to a burrowing existence. It lives buried in sand and gravel bottoms of shallow coastal waters and reefs. Head-first it bores through the sediment in search of small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Short worm eel?

The Short worm eel has a snake-like body, is mainly pink-purple and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Short worm eel live?

The Short worm eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Short worm eel get?

The Short worm eel grows to a maximum of about 33 cm.

Is the Short worm eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Short worm eel is harmless to humans.

Is the Short worm eel edible?

The Short worm eel is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Korte spaghetti-aal sourced
English name
Short worm eel verified
Scientific name
Moringua abbreviata
Family
Moringuidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
33.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Moringua

More from the family Moringuidae

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