Splendid Garden Eel

Gorgasia preclara, commonly known as the splendid garden eel or orange-barred garden eel, represents a species of marine garden eel.

The splendid garden eel is characterized as a medium-sized fish, reaching a maximum length of approximately 40 centimeters. Its body is circular in shape, with a diameter of about 10 millimeters. The species showcases a distinctive coloration ranging from yellow to orange, complemented by characteristic white bands.

Gorgasia preclara is prevalent throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, extending from the 🇲🇻 Maldives through the 🇮🇩 Indonesian archipelago and Papua 🇵🇬 New Guinea, reaching northwards to the Ryukyu and 🇯🇵 Japanese archipelagos, and southwards to the 🇵🇭 Philippines. Notably, an individual of this species resided in Dahab for a duration of five years. Typically, these eels are found in sandy areas exposed to currents at depths ranging from 18 to 75 meters, with an average observation depth of 30 meters.

The splendid garden eel constructs a burrow in the sand and can be found either solitarily or in congregations ranging from a few individuals to groups exceeding a thousand. Generally, only the eel's head and uppermost body remain visible above the sand, with the eel retreating completely when approached by larger fish or divers. Their diet primarily consists of drifting plankton.

During the mating season, male and female eels may relocate their burrows to achieve closer proximity. Males may exhibit courtship behaviors and protective displays, sometimes engaging in competitive interactions with rival males. Upon establishing dominance, the male and female intertwine their bodies from respective burrows to facilitate mating. The species is a pelagic spawner; female eels release fertilized eggs into the current. These eggs then hatch into larvae that remain suspended in the water column until reaching a size suitable for burrow construction. At this point, juvenile eels establish their own sand burrows.