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Klausewitz's garden eel (Gorgasia klausewitzi) — Congridae

Klausewitz's garden eel

Gorgasia klausewitzi
Family: Congridae

The Klausewitz's garden eel (Gorgasia klausewitzi) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 75 cm.

Length
75.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
170.0–225.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Klausewitz's garden eel is a garden eel (Congridae) from shallow sandy water of the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. The species grows to about 40 cm but is very thin and thread-like, with large eyes. It lives in colonies, each animal anchored by its rear in a self-dug burrow in the sand while the forebody reaches into the current to snap passing zooplankton; when in danger it withdraws entirely. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Klausewitz's garden eel?

The Klausewitz's garden eel has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Klausewitz's garden eel live?

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

How big does the Klausewitz's garden eel get?

The Klausewitz's garden eel grows to a maximum of about 75 cm.

Is the Klausewitz's garden eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Klausewitz's garden eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Klausewitz tuinaal sourced
English name
Klausewitz's garden eel sourced
Scientific name
Gorgasia klausewitzi
Family
Congridae
Other names
Klausewitz' garden eel sourced

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
75.1 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
Min depth (m)
170.0 verified
Max depth (m)
225.0 verified
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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