Pacific spaghetti eel | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Family: | Congridae |
Genus: | Gorgasia |
Species: | G. japonica
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Binomial name | |
Gorgasia japonica Abe, Miki & Minoru Asai, 1977
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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 30 metres (98 ft). It is non-migratory, and inhabits sand flats near reefs. Males can reach a maximum total length of 100 centimetres (39 in); 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]