Pacific spaghetti eel explained

The Pacific spaghetti eel[1] (Gorgasia japonica) is a sand dwelling eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels).[2] It was described by Tokiharu Abe, M. Miki and Minoru Asai in 1977.[3] It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling eel which is known from the northwestern and southwestern Pacific Ocean, including Japan (from which its species epithet is derived) and New Zealand. It dwells at a maximum depth of 30m (100feet). It is non-migratory, and inhabits sand flats near reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 100cm (00inches); the diameter of the body is approximately 10 millimetres.[2] Spaghetti eels will typically occur in large groups that can consist of hundreds of eels.

The Pacific spaghetti eel's diet consists of zooplankton.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=23301&GenusName=Gorgasia&SpeciesName=japonica&StockCode=18514 Common names for Gorgasia japonica
  2. http://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/Gorgasia-japonica.html Gorgasia japonica
  3. Abe, T., M. Miki and M. Asai, 1977 (20 Mar.) [ref. 7225] Description of a new garden eel from Japan. Uo (Japanese Society of Ichthyology) No. 28: 1-8.
  4. http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItemsList.php?vstockcode=18514&genus=Gorgasia&species=japonica Food items reported for Gorgasia japonica