Kingdom Animalia Family Congridae Genus Heteroconger Order Eel | Class Actinopterygii Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Eel, Heteroconger, Heterocongrinae, Gorgasia, Bandtooth conger | ||
Brown garden eels
The brown garden eel (Heteroconger longissimus), also known simply as the garden eel, is an eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels). It was described by Albert Günther in 1870. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, including Madeira, the Canary Islands, Senegal, the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, Antilles, Yucatan, Belize, Honduras, and Brazil. It dwells at a depth of 10-60 m, most commonly between 20 and 60 m, and leads a nonmigratory, benthic lifestyle, inhabiting reefs in colonies. They likely spawn during the warm season. The larval state of development lasts for about 6-8 months. Adult males can reach a maximum total length of 51 cm.
The brown garden eel's diet consists primarily of detritus and plankton.