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Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) — Congridae

Red Sea garden eel

Gorgasia sillneri
Family: Congridae

The Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 84 cm.

Length
83.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt

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Description

The Red Sea garden eel is a garden eel (Congridae) from coastal waters of the Red Sea. The species grows to about 84 cm and has a very slender, snake-shaped body. It lives in colonies in self-dug vertical burrows in sandy bottoms near reefs, from which it protrudes its forebody to snap at zooplankton drifting with the current; when threatened it withdraws fully into the burrow. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Red Sea garden eel?

The Red Sea garden eel has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Red Sea garden eel live?

The Red Sea garden eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt

How big does the Red Sea garden eel get?

The Red Sea garden eel grows to a maximum of about 84 cm.

Is the Red Sea garden eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Red Sea garden eel is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) — Congridae — 2
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) — Congridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Joni, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) — Congridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Bernd (CC BY 2.0)
Red Sea garden eel (Gorgasia sillneri) — Congridae — 5
John E. Randall (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB

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All data

Identification

English name
Red Sea garden eel sourced
Scientific name
Gorgasia sillneri
Family
Congridae

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
83.8 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Activity
Nocturnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. 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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