Marine Fishes of South-East Asia. Gerry Allen

      PLATE 10: SNAKE EELS AND GARDEN EELS

      1 SHARPSNOUT SNAKE EEL

      Apterichtus klazingai (Weber, 1913)

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs, buries in sand and seldom seen; distinguished by pointed snout and by white colour and numerous small light brown spots; Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E.Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 40 cm. (OPHICHTHIDAE)

      2 CLOWN SNAKE EEL

      Ophichthus bonaparti (Kaup, 1856)

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs, buries in sand -sometimes seen with head protruding; Indonesia and Philippines; to 60 cm. (OPHICHTHIDAE)

      3 CROCODILE SNAKE EEL

      Brachysomophis crocodilinus (Bennett, 1833)

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs, buries in sand -sometimes seen with head protruding; distinguished by numerous skin flaps lining mouth; similar to B. cirrocheilos (Pl. 9-3), but has smaller pectoral fins (their length fits about 10-12 times into head length instead of only 4-5 times); Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E.Asia; Indo-E. Pacific; to 110 cm. (OPHICHTHIDAE)

      4 BLACK-STRIPED SNAKE EEL

      Callechelys catostomus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs, buries in sand and seldom seen; distinguished by broad black stripe; C. melanotaenia is a synonym; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of N.W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; to 60 cm. (OPHICHTHIDAE)

      5 SPOTTED SNAKE EEL

      Myrichthys maculosus (Cuvier, 1817)

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs, buries in sand, but sometimes seen entirely exposed; distinguished by row of large dark spots; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of N.W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; to 50 cm. (OPHICHTHIDAE)

      6 COBRA GARDEN EEL

      Heteroconger cobra Böhlke and Randall, 1981

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs; mainly covered with brown spots, but distinguished by large dark blotch surrounding u-shaped white marking on head; New Guinea and Solomon Islands; to 40 cm. (CONGRIDAE)

      7 MANY-TOOTHED GARDEN EEL

      Heteroconger perissodon Böhlke & Randall, 1981

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs; distinguished by white blotch on side of head; Philippines and Indonesia; to 60 cm. (CONGRIDAE)

      8 SPLENDID GARDEN EEL

      Heteroconger preclara Böhlke & Randall, 1981

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs; distinguished by bold brown and white pattern of bars; Philippines and Indonesia, also Maldive Islands; to 60 cm. (CONGRIDAE)

      9 SPOTTED GARDEN EEL

      Heteroconger hassi (Klausewitz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1959)

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs; distinguished by fine spotting and pair of large black spots on anterior third of body; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of N.W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 60 cm. (CONGRIDAE)

      10 TAYLOR’S GARDEN EEL

      Heteroconger taylori Castle & Randall, 1995

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs; distinguished by leopard-like black spots; Indonesia and New Guinea; to 40 cm. (CONGRIDAE)

      11 BARNES’S GARDEN EEL

      Gorgasia barnesi Robison & Lancraft, 1984

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs; distinguished by fine brown speckling and dark lips; Indonesia (Flores to Banda); to 100 cm. (CONGRIDAE)

      12 SPECKLED GARDEN EEL

      Gorgasia sp.

      Inhabits sand bottoms near coral reefs; distinguished by fine brownish yellow speckling; an undescribed species still lacking a scientific name; Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea; W. Pacific; to 46 cm. (CONGRIDAE)

      EEL GARDENS

      Garden eels (6-12) are easy to miss, even though they are frequently abundant. The reason for their apparent scarcity is that they live on flat or sloping sand bottoms - boring terrain for most divers or snorklers, who generally prefer the excitement of coral reefs. These unusual animals do not take a baited hook, and were unknown to the scientific world, until the advent of scuba diving a few decades ago. However, their unusual and interesting habits offer great rewards for the observant diver and underwater photographer.

      Although small groups are occasionally encountered, they usually reside in colonies composed of many individuals, sometimes hundreds or even thousands! The eels live in sandy burrows, which they construct. They seldom leave the burrow, but while feeding in the passing current they rise out of their retreat -exposing up to two-thirds of the body length. Zooplankton is their primary food source. The eels even stay in their burrows when spawning - by stretching over to their mates adjacent burrow and entwining bodies.

      When disturbed the eels retreat backward into the opening of their lair. If a diver swims through the colony a wave “effect” is created - directly ahead the eels gradually disappear into the sand, while those in the divers wake gradually reappear. The common name of these creatures is derived from the appearance of the colonies when all the members are feeding in an extended position - from a distance they resemble a bed of plant stalks.

      These animals offer a real challenge to underwater photographers. A telephoto lens is required, either a 105 or 210 mm. In spite of the magnification advantage of these lenses, it is still necessary to have lots of patience. The best shots result when one can hide behind adjacent reef and hold breaths for long periods - encouraging the eel to rise high into the water column.