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Yellow garden eel (Heteroconger luteolus) — Congridae

Yellow garden eel

Heteroconger luteolus
Family: Congridae

The Yellow garden eel (Heteroconger luteolus) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–33.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The yellow garden eel is a garden eel (Congridae) from shallow coastal water of the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 40 cm but is very thin and thread-like, with a yellowish body and 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 Yellow garden eel?

The Yellow garden eel has a snake-like body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Yellow garden eel live?

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

How big does the Yellow garden eel get?

The Yellow garden eel grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Yellow garden eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellow garden eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gele tuinaal sourced
English name
Yellow garden eel sourced
Scientific name
Heteroconger luteolus
Family
Congridae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
40 sourced
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Max depth (m)
33.0 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

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 Heteroconger

More from the family Congridae

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