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Brown Garden Eel (Heteroconger longissimus) — Congridae

Brown Garden Eel

Heteroconger longissimus
Family: Congridae
LC · Least Concern

The Brown Garden Eel (Heteroconger longissimus) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 51 cm.

Length
51 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–60.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The brown garden eel is a garden eel (Congridae) from the Atlantic Ocean. The species has a very elongate, thin, worm-like body and lives in colonies in self-dug vertical burrows in sand bottoms. The rear body stays in the burrow while the front body protrudes into the current; when threatened it quickly withdraws. It feeds on zooplankton and detritus drifting with the current. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brown Garden Eel?

The Brown Garden Eel has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Brown Garden Eel live?

The Brown Garden Eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Brown Garden Eel get?

The Brown Garden Eel grows to a maximum of about 51 cm.

Is the Brown Garden Eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Brown Garden Eel is harmless to humans.

Is the Brown Garden Eel edible?

The Brown Garden Eel is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bruine tuinaal sourced
English name
Brown Garden Eel verified
Scientific name
Heteroconger longissimus
Family
Congridae
Other names
Brown garden eel; Garden eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
51.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) 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
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
60.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal 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 Heteroconger

More from the family Congridae

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