Species learning profile
Spotted garden eel
Heteroconger hassi
Spotted garden eel (Heteroconger hassi) is a saltwater fish associated with reef habitat in Indo-Pacific. Colonies sway above individual sand burrows like grass in a current.
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At a glance
- Eau
- Eau salée
- Habitat
- Récif
- Longueur maximale
- 40 cm
- Répartition
- Indo-Pacifique
- Famille
- Congridae
- Ordre
- Anguilliformes
Observe
How to identify Spotted garden eel
- Colonies sway above individual sand burrows like grass in a current.
- Guide context: reef habitat in Indo-Pacific.
- Reported maximum length: 40 cm — up to about the length of a guitar. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with reef habitat across Indo-Pacific. Reef crevices provide shelter while current, coral, algae, and neighboring animals supply food.
Behavior
Retreats tail-first into a permanent burrow
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Zooplankton.
Ecological role
Captures drifting plankton and aerates sand.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Spotted garden eel peut atteindre environ 40 cm et vit souvent près de Récif.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Reef fish are affected by coral loss, warming, destructive fishing, pollution, and the removal of key grazers or predators.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Spotted garden eel in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections