{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic_taxobox | image = Heteroconger at Shedd Aquarium.jpg | image_caption = ''Gorgasia preclara'' | taxon = Gorgasia | authority = Meek & Hildebrand, 1923 | type_species = ''Gorgasia punctata'' | type_species_authority = Meek & Hildebrand, 1923 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }}
'''''Gorgasia''''' is one of the two genera that belong to the subfamily ''Heterocongrinae'' (common name: garden eels).<ref>{{Citation|last1=Pauly|first1=Daniel|title=Fisheries Management|date=2014-09-15|work=eLS|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd|isbn=9780470015902|last2=Froese|first2=Rainer|doi=10.1002/9780470015902.a0003252.pub3|s2cid=214668133 }}</ref> This genus is classified by the behavioral pattern of burrowing 75% of their bodies in the sandy substrate they live in and protruding their upper body into the water current above, giving the appearance that they are planted into the ground (origin of common name). This protruding behavior serves a multipurpose functionality to their survival.<ref name=Donham>{{Cite journal|last1=Donham|first1=Emily|last2=Foster|first2=Michael S.|last3=Rice|first3=Marc R.|last4=Cailliet|first4=Gregor M.|last5=Yoklavich|first5=Mary M.|last6=Hamilton|first6=Scott L.|date=April 2017|title=Natural History Observations of Hawaiian Garden Eels, ''Gorgasia hawaiiensis'' (Congridae: Heterocongrinae), from the Island of Hawai'i|journal=Pacific Science|volume=71|issue=2|pages=135–147|doi=10.2984/71.2.3|s2cid=89719503|issn=0030-8870}}</ref>
The first function serves as a method of collection of their prey. Most members of this genus prey on zooplankton floating in the passing current, while some species (i.e. ''G. hawaiiensis''<ref name=Donham/>) will prey on small fish eggs. The second function of the burrowing behavior allows for avoidance of predation. Whenever in the presence of a predator, most commonly the Pacific snake eel (''Ophichthus triserialis''), garden eels will retreat back into their burrows and hide. Similarly, during the night hours (non-light hours) when zooplankton populations are low, these eels will return to their burrows and cap them off while they sleep.<ref name=barnesi>{{Cite journal|last1=Robison|first1=Bruce H.|last2=Lancraft|first2=Thomas M.|date=1984-05-01|title=''Gorgasia barnesi'' (Congridae: Heterocongrinae), a New Garden Eel from the Banda Sea|journal=Copeia|volume=1984|issue=2|pages=404|doi=10.2307/1445198|issn=0045-8511|jstor=1445198}}</ref>
Other key characteristics of this genus includes colonial living species, sometimes with a density of up to 40 individuals in a meter-by-meter territory, as well as a metamorphosis stage between the egg stage and adulthood. Colonial living aides in evasion of predators and plays a vital role in their sexual reproduction.
==Species== There are 14 species that make up the genus ''Gorgasia''. Each species is diverse in morphological patterning, hosting flat, spotted, freckled, and banded colorations, while still hosting some key defining morphology such as a short snout, large lips, large eyes, dagger shaped teeth, and a single fused anal, dorsal, and caudal ray fin.<ref name=Raju>{{Cite journal|last=Raju|first=Solomon N.|date=1974-06-13|title=Distribution, Growth and Metamorphosis of Leptocephali of the Garden Eels, Taenioconger sp. and Gorgasia sp.|journal=Copeia|volume=1974|issue=2|pages=494–500|doi=10.2307/1442540|issn=0045-8511|jstor=1442540}}</ref> These species range in length from the shortest being around 40 cm and the longest around {{Convert abbreviated|120|cm}} and have a body cavity typically staying around 10 millimeters in diameter.
The currently recognized species in this genus are:<ref>{{FishBase genus | genus = Gorgasia| month = April | year = 2012}}</ref><ref>WoRMS.</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+Species and characteristics !Species !Geographically found !Depth found (m) !Max body length (cm) !Described by !Year described |- |''Gorgasia barnesi'' |Western Pacific Ocean |5–20 |121 |B. H. Robison & Lancraft |1984<ref name=barnesi/> |- |''Gorgasia cotroneii'' |Western Indian Ocean | -- | -- |D'Ancona |1928<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Coifmann|first=Isabella|date=January 1936|title=Alcuni Misidacei nuovi raccolti dal Prof. L. Sanzo nella crociera della R. N. Ammiraglio Magnaghi al Mar Rosso (1923–24)|journal=Bolletino di Zoologia|volume=7|issue=1|pages=83–88|doi=10.1080/11250003609427856|issn=0373-4137}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia galzini'' (speckled garden eel) |South Western Pacific Ocean |17–53 |53 |Castle & J. E. Randall |1999<ref>{{Cite book|date=2005-11-01|title=Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific: New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia hawaiiensis'' (Hawaiian garden eel) |Central Pacific Ocean (Hawaiian Coast) |11–53 |60 |J. E. Randall & Chess |1980<ref name=barnesi/> |- |''Gorgasia inferomaculata'' |Eastern Atlantic Ocean | -- | -- |Blache |1977<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=FJS|last2=Blache|first2=J.|last3=Cadenat|first3=J.|last4=Stauch|first4=A.|date=1971-09-03|title=Clés de Détermination des Poissons de Mer Signáles Dans L'atlantique Oriental (Entre le 20e Parallele n. et le 15e Paralleles.) Faune Tropicale|journal=Copeia|volume=1971|issue=3|pages=581|doi=10.2307/1442469|issn=0045-8511|jstor=1442469}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia japonica'' |Western Pacific Ocean |30 |100 | T. Abe, Miki & M. Asai |1977<ref>{{Citation|last=HARDMAN|first=GRAHAM|chapter=Japanese Gardens and the Japanese Garden Society in the UK|pages=28–38|publisher=Renaissance Books|isbn=9781898823278|doi=10.2307/j.ctt1s17p5s.8|title=Britain & Japan: Biographical Portraits, Vol. IX|year=2015}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia klausewitzi'' (Klausewitz's garden eel) |Indian Ocean |170–225 |75 |Quéro & Saldanha |1995<ref name=WICKEL>{{Cite journal|last1=WICKEL|first1=Julien|last2=PINAULT|first2=Mathieu|last3=GRONIER|first3=Michael|last4=CLAMAGIRAND|first4=Etienne|date=2018|title=Analyse des modules tests pour les piles du viaduc de la nouvelle route du littoral (Océan Indien, île de La Réunion)|journal=XVèmes Journées, la Rochelle|pages=497–504|publisher=Editions Paralia|doi=10.5150/jngcgc.2018.058|isbn=9782359210200|doi-access=free}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia maculata'' (whitespotted garden eel) |Western Pacific Ocean |25–48 |70 | Klausewitz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt, |1959<ref name=Fricke>{{Cite journal|last=Fricke|first=Hans W.|date=2010-04-26|title=Ökologische und verhaltensbiologische Beobachtungen an den Röhrenaalen ''Gorgasia sillneri'' und ''Taenioconger hassi'' (Pisces, Apodes, Heterocongridae)|journal=Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie|volume=27|issue=9|pages=1076–1099|doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.1970.tb01918.x|issn=0044-3573}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia naeocepaea'' |Central Pacific Ocean (Hawaiian Coast) |10–24 |75 |J. E. Böhlke |1951<ref name=Bohlke>{{Cite journal|last=Bohlke|first=J.|date=1951-03-21|title=A New Eel of the Genus Taenioconger from the Philippines|journal=Copeia|volume=1951|issue=1|pages=32–35|doi=10.2307/1438047|issn=0045-8511|jstor=1438047}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia preclara'' (splendid garden eel) |Indo-Western Pacific Ocean |18–75 |40 | J. E. Böhlke & J. E. Randal |1981<ref name=Bohlke/> |- |''Gorgasia punctata'' (dotted garden eel) |Eastern Pacific Ocean | -- |50 |Meek & Hildebrand |1923<ref>{{Cite book|title=The marine fishes of Panama. by Seth E. Meek and Samuel F. Hildebrand.|last1=Meek|first1=Seth E.|last2=Hildebrand|first2=Samuel F.|series=Publication |date=1923|volume=15 |publisher=Field Museum of Natural History|location=Chicago|doi = 10.5962/bhl.title.2887}}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia sillneri'' |Red Sea / Indian Ocean | -- |84 |Klausewitz |1962<ref name=Fricke/> |- |''Gorgasia taiwanensis'' |Northwestern Pacific Ocean |14–22 |74 |K. T. Shao |1990<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Moran|first=Robbin C.|date=1990|title=A New Species of ''Polypodium'' (Polypodiaceae) and Two New Species of ''Hypolepsis'' (Dennstaedtiaceae) from Mesoamerica|journal=Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden|volume=77|issue=4|pages=845–850|doi=10.2307/2399676|issn=0026-6493|jstor=2399676|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/7595 }}</ref> |- |''Gorgasia thamani'' |Central Pacific (Hawaiian Coast) |14–15 |119 |D. W. Greenfield & Niesz |2004<ref name=barnesi/> |}
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3.8829229607148505 ], [ -93.54583740234376, 11.13646608231539 ], [ -105.43682098388673, 11.9580516494836 ], [ -108.43917846679689, 17.25656418285908 ], [ -109.23225402832033, 24.44683704773938 ], [ -107.08133697509767, 24.688824063094287 ], [ -104.036922454834, 17.97971276893512 ] ] ] } } ] }</mapframe>This genus is situated near the tropics, residing in warmer waters on continental shelves, typically near coral reefs. During their life cycle, this genus will spend their larval stages in the epipelagic portion of the ocean until they become juveniles.<ref name=barnesi/> At this time, they will swim down to the sandy substrate of the benthic zone and burrow themselves. The species belonging to this genus vary in the depths at which they are found on the continental shelf. A majority of the species are found between {{Convert|10-20|m|sp=us}} with some being found as deep as {{Convert|220|m|sp=us}}.<ref name=WICKEL/>
The map to the right shows this genus is widespread across the globe with a high concentration around the Southwestern Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, with other populations found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean around Latin America and the Eastern Atlantic in the Gulf of Guinea.
== Reproduction and life span == left|thumb|386x386px|Garden eels in Bali clustering their burrows during spawning Adults will reproduce sexually with each other. When time for breeding, adults in genus ''Gorgasia'' will increase the density of their colonial living until their burrows begin to overlap one another. Males will compete for proximity to a female's burrow, often biting at each other's body and face and in rare instances mortally wounding one another.<ref name=barnesi/>
thumb|Leptocephalus form of garden eel young|alt=
Garden eels are oviparous and practice external fertilization. This means that a female will expel her eggs into the surrounding substrate and they will be fertilized by the male secreting his sperm onto them. Then, when fertilized, eggs will float to the epipelagic zone of the continental shelf where they will mature and hatch into the larval stage of development called leptocephalus. These larvae will be translucent, a camouflaging technique for the open ocean in order to avoid predation until they are able to mature more.<ref name=Raju/>
When almost one year of age, the juveniles will begin to form their morphological colorings and will swim to the benthic zone and build their burrows. At this point they are sexually mature and will begin the cycle over again. Although there is variability between the species of this genus, average longevity of life is estimated at 6 years of age for garden eels with the range spanning from 4 years to 10 years.<ref name=Donham/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Commons category-inline|Gorgasia}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2671966}}
Category:Gorgasia Category:Heterocongrinae Category:Taxa named by Seth Eugene Meek Category:Taxa named by Samuel Frederick Hildebrand