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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珊瑚礁Congridae

At a glance

水域
海水
Habitat
珊瑚礁
最大长度
40 cm
分布范围
印度洋—太平洋
Congridae
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可长到约 40 厘米,常见于珊瑚礁附近。

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.

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