Heteroconger klausewitzi
Galapagos garden eel | Taenioconger klausewitzi
Distribution
Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Two large black blotches on a light background speckled with black spots. Occurs in large aggregations on sloping sandy / rubble bottoms, normally in deeper water with moderate current flow, in burrows with head and fore body exposed. Retreat into burrows when approached.
Information
Max Size: 70 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 20.8-29.1°C
Depth: 5-50m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Infrequent (3.6% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Several (6 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Andrew Green