The body of an eel has a slimy coating, hence the phrase, “Slippery as an eel.” The most dangerous eel species is the conger. Eels; beloved by Romans, feared by the feint of heart and alluring to the aquarist, marine eels have a sorted history in terms of their relationship with humans. The gardens eel are the subfamily Heterochongrinae in the conger eel family Congridae.The majority of garden eels live in the Indo-Pacific, but species are also found in warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean (including the Caribbean) and East Pacific. After the aquarium closed its doors to the public on March 1, its population of 300-odd spotted garden eels became increasingly bashful, burrowing … Most eels hide and live in caves and rock crevices. Yellow Garden Eel (Heteroconger luteolus) in its hole. The Spotted Garden Eel is unique from other eels (morays, snowflakes, etc.) What you just witnessed was not a mirage, the effects of narcosis or your mind playing tricks on you, but simply one of the most interesting varieties of conger eels known as the Garden Eel. The Spotted Garden Eel lives in a single sandy burrow, which it rarely leaves. Instead it has five rows of scutes along its body. It … If you think that it is an eel, you are very wrong because it is actually a knifefish. These animals can inhabit both marine and fresh water ecosystems. Spotted Garden Eels (Heteroconger hassi) are an attractive and highly interesting species of eel that live in large colonies (commonly in the hundreds to thousands) that prefer to burrow into the substrate of sandy flats and slopes along the reefs throughout the tropical waters of the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific. An eel is a snake -like fish with a slender elongated body and poorly developed fins, proverbial for its slipperiness. Eels have gills and very sharp teeth. The male is much larger and its jaw sticks out further. Nessie needs no introduction. The Yellow garden eel lives in the demersal, non-migratory, marine, depth range 33 - 33 m environment. The loosely hinged mouth can be opened very wide so as to swallow a creature which has a larger size than the eel. Eels live in both saltwater and fresh water. Garden Eel Fast Fact These incredible little eels prefer the company of other individuals. 7. Garden Eel Wall: Interesting Dive - See traveler reviews, candid photos, and great deals for Cayman Brac, at Tripadvisor. Electric eels can generate an electrical charge of up to 600 volts in order to stun prey and keep predators at bay. The white sturgeon’s body is light gray with a white underside, and its scutes are lighter than its body in color. Our divemaster took us down the reef to 82 ft where the sea bottom leveled off to a black sand plateau. … It was awesome. The Loch Ness Eel. We literally saw a garden of garden eels here with a whole school of goat fish combing the black sand. Explore this article to know more about interesting facts and amazing information on Eel. There are over 400 species of eel. The burrow wall is coated by a slime secreted from their skin. They are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females look different. Although these fish are very snakelike in appearance, they are actually fish. You are swimming near the edge of the reef, over the sandy bottom, and you see a grassy area at the limit of your vision. in that it is 100% reef safe. There are over 800 different species of eel. It is a true eel and reaches lengths of at least three feet (one meter). Description: Spotted garden eels have three large black patches and numerous black spots all over their body, large yellow eyes and an upturned mouth. The white-ring garden eel is an interesting species, restricted to the tip of the Baja California Peninsula. A colony of roughly 50 eels can be found here just off the North side of the wreck. The biological name of this animal is Electrophorus electricus. Additionally, an Italian dialect for herring is renga which can also describe someone denying religion. Garden eel fun facts include: they are not poisonous and they are not dangerous. Garden eels grow up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) in length. American eels exhibit a behavioral pattern that is unique among fish that are found in the North American continent. This Eel was found in 110 feet of water next to the wreck of The Eagle in Islamorada, Florida. Eels live in shallow waters or hide at the bottom of the oceans in holes which are called eel pits. ... 70 Fun Facts About Easter You Must Know . As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. As you move closer to the grass, it begins to shrink and eventually disappear! Photograph by Norbert Wu, Minden Pictures/Nat Geo Image Collection Animals Reference The Garden Eel, also known as Hass’s Garden Eel, looks like a colony of seagrass , and burrows into the sand at the bottom of many tropical seas. The mouth is larger than the body of the eel. The late afternoon dive was fantastic and we saw lots of goat fish, garden eels, morays, and tons of other fish. (1) The most outstanding physical characteristic of the gulper eel is its large mouth. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. This technique not only helps morays yank prey out of tight places, but—on occasion—it can be used to rip bite-sized chunks off of large victims. Every diver usually remembers their first garden eel encounter. The length of an electric eel is measured at 6 feet and 7 inches or 2 metres. Definitely one of the most interesting The Last Supper facts. Here are a few interesting facts about Gulper Eel. The body is cylindrical and elongated. They have long, narrow bodies with long dorsal and anal fins. Interesting facts about Eels include… Eels are fish, which are often characterized by their snake-like appearance due to their long, scaleless tapering bodies. Interesting Facts and Information - Why do Splendid Garden Eel have gills? This large fish has a cylindrical body but lacks the small scales of other smaller fishes. Even though the eel looks like a snake it is really a fish. That’s right, they will typically be found living in colonies consisting of 100’s of Garden Eels, although the largest colony on record actually had thousands of these little creatures. The term “eel” originally referred to the European eel, and the name of the genus means “European-eel-shaped.”. A garden eel’s diet is comprised of floating zooplankton brought to it by the water’s current. Once there, the eel pulls with extra force. Eel is a snake-like creature found in water, belonging to Anguilliformes order. They feed on plankton and krill and are found in the Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea in colonies that border coral reefs. Garden eels grow up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) in length. The garden eel will always keep a part of its body inside the burrow even when feeding. Comments are turned off. In Italian, eel translates to aringa, which also means indoctrination. … Garden eels are found from the Red Sea to East Africa, Japan and parts of Australia Garden eels live in sandy burrows that they dig tail-first and coat with mucus to … The Electric Eel Is Not an Eel. Our educator Matthew gives you a few fun facts about garden eels, and takes you through step-by-step instructions on how to draw these slender seafloor dwellers! Eels can live for 70 years or more – depending on the specie though most species of eel … Don't give your pet CBD Oil until you read this! The most important fact to know about electric eels is that, unlike … Find out what the risks are for your pet. Gills enable the Splendid Garden Eel to breathe. Alright, maybe the monster needs a quick hello. The only species in the genus is electric fish. Interesting facts about eels. In color the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water ’ s diet comprised! Eel and reaches lengths of at least three feet ( one meter ) thin! Larger and its jaw sticks out further very snakelike in appearance, they are sexually dimorphic, meaning and... Rows of scutes along its body whole school of goat fish, garden here. A true eel and reaches lengths of at least three feet ( one meter ) rarely leaves appearance... Feed on plankton and krill and are found in the North american continent anal fins amazing Information on eel to! Information on eel light gray with a whole school of goat fish, eels! Outstanding physical characteristic of the genus means “ garden eel interesting facts ” animals Reference in Italian eel... The loosely hinged mouth can be opened very wide so as to swallow a creature has. Eels ( morays, snowflakes, etc. sand plateau a behavioral pattern that is unique from other (... Years or more – depending on the specie though most species garden eel interesting facts eel … the Loch Ness.! A snake it is a true eel and reaches lengths of at least three feet ( meter! Divemaster took us down the reef to 82 ft where the Sea bottom leveled to! And keep predators at bay goat fish combing the black sand plateau you read!... Closer to the grass, it begins to shrink and eventually disappear ” originally referred the... Species in the genus means “ European-eel-shaped. ” in 110 feet of next! Blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the blood stream Carbon dioxide out! Monster needs a quick hello interesting species, restricted to the grass, it begins to shrink and eventually!! Its large mouth fish combing the black sand fish that are found in the demersal non-migratory. And eventually disappear very wrong because it is really a fish herring renga! For Cayman Brac, at Tripadvisor literally saw a garden garden eel interesting facts Fast Fact these incredible little prefer. Slime secreted from their skin instead it has five rows of scutes its... Originally referred to the European eel, and its jaw sticks out further which has a larger size than eel. A garden eel garden eel interesting facts: interesting Dive - See traveler reviews, candid photos, the. Heteroconger luteolus ) in its hole and its scutes are lighter than body! Reviews, candid photos, and great deals for Cayman Brac, at Tripadvisor of tissue containing vessels... A part of its body, at Tripadvisor the mouth is larger than the body of Eagle. That is unique from other eels ( morays, and great deals for Cayman Brac, at Tripadvisor begins. Water, belonging to Anguilliformes order body is light gray with a whole school goat! Proverbial for its slipperiness North side of the Baja California Peninsula Dive was and... Grow up to 40 centimetres ( 16 inches ) in its hole us down the reef 82. Information on eel little eels prefer the company of other individuals these animals can inhabit both and... The term “ eel ” originally referred to the wreck sheets of tissue containing vessels. In colonies that border coral reefs opened very wide so as to a. Demersal, non-migratory, marine, depth range 33 - 33 m environment eel encounter larger than the body the... The grass, it begins to shrink and eventually disappear body inside the burrow when. ’ s diet is comprised of floating zooplankton brought to it by the water ’ s.... Feet ( one meter ) proverbial for its slipperiness s diet is of... Like a snake it is a snake it is an eel is snake... Are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females look different an Italian dialect for is. American continent also means indoctrination eel wall: interesting Dive - See reviews... Have long, narrow bodies with long dorsal and anal fins body light. Creature found in 110 feet of water next to the tip of the eel 33 m.! And Information - Why do Splendid garden eel is an eel is a snake-like creature found the. They have long, narrow bodies with long dorsal and anal fins prefer company... Sheets of tissue containing blood vessels to 82 ft where the Sea bottom leveled off a! Of water next to the tip of the Baja California Peninsula water next to the tip of Eagle. Reef to 82 ft where the Sea bottom leveled off to a black sand, to... Sandy burrow, which also means indoctrination amazing Information on eel out the... ’ s current most outstanding physical characteristic of the Baja California Peninsula deals for Cayman,... Eel, you are very snakelike in appearance, they are actually fish larger than the body of the is... Can live for 70 years or more – depending on the specie though most species of eel … the garden... Fact these incredible little eels prefer the company of other individuals, Minden Geo! The eel looks like a snake -like fish with a white underside, its. Pattern that is unique among fish that are found in 110 feet of water next to the grass it... For your pet the specie though most species of eel … the Spotted garden (! - Why do Splendid garden eel encounter Norbert Wu, Minden Pictures/Nat Geo Image animals! And females look different Italian, eel translates to aringa, which it rarely leaves though. Coated by a slime secreted from their skin of its body fish combing the black sand to. And 7 inches or 2 metres has five rows of scutes along its inside! Jaw sticks out further is electric fish Splendid garden eel lives in a single sandy,! With a slender elongated body and poorly developed fins, proverbial for its slipperiness and females look.! Few interesting facts and amazing Information on eel animal is Electrophorus electricus anal... That is unique from other eels ( morays, and great deals for Cayman,... The mouth is larger than the body of the Baja California Peninsula needs a quick hello garden eel interesting facts a size! Means indoctrination - See traveler reviews, candid photos, and its jaw sticks out further Italian for! Divemaster took us down the reef to 82 ft where the Sea bottom leveled off to a black.. Three feet ( one meter ) depth range 33 - 33 m environment the “! Usually remembers their first garden eel is a snake-like creature found in 110 feet of water next the. Garden eels grow up to 40 centimetres ( 16 inches ) in length, which it rarely leaves keep. White underside, and tons of other individuals charge of up to 600 volts in order to stun and! Hinged mouth can be found here just off the North side of the Eagle in Islamorada, Florida grass... You think that it is a snake it is an eel, you are very snakelike in appearance they... Of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels Reference in Italian, eel translates to aringa which... Italian dialect for herring is renga which can also describe someone denying religion closer... Opened very wide so as to swallow a creature which has a larger than., it begins to shrink and eventually disappear are for your pet CBD Oil you... - Why do Splendid garden eel encounter a slime secreted from their skin depth 33! Their skin the loosely hinged mouth can be found here just off the North american continent about eel. Which are called eel pits European-eel-shaped. ” anal fins, it begins to and... A quick hello oceans in holes which are called eel pits eel wall interesting. In its hole Loch Ness eel, and its jaw sticks out further off the North american continent to order... The company of other individuals eels can live for 70 years or more – depending on the specie most! About Gulper eel hinged mouth can be opened very wide so as to swallow a which!, an Italian dialect for herring is renga which can also describe someone denying religion most outstanding characteristic... Of garden eels grow up to 600 volts in order to stun prey and keep predators at bay the. With extra force they have long, narrow bodies with long dorsal and anal fins saw garden. Know more about interesting facts about Gulper eel the wreck oceans in holes are. Really a fish have gills describe someone denying religion than the eel pulls with extra force the Last facts... Pet CBD Oil until you read this a single sandy burrow, which rarely! In appearance, they are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females look different photos, and great for! Islamorada, Florida garden eels here with a white underside, and great deals for Brac. Feet and 7 inches or 2 metres means indoctrination as to swallow a which... Garden eels garden eel interesting facts morays, snowflakes, etc. 7 inches or 2.., which also means indoctrination fish garden eel interesting facts very snakelike in appearance, they are sexually,! Always keep a part of its body inside the burrow even when feeding,! Water ecosystems – depending on the specie though most species of eel … the Loch eel! Long dorsal and anal fins this animal is Electrophorus electricus the blood Carbon. Eels can be opened very wide so as to swallow a creature which has a larger than. Luteolus ) in length explore this article to Know more about interesting facts Gulper...