Description

Vertebrae: 197. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: the body is extremely slender, with depth 1.2% TL and 1.0% TL at gill opening and anus, respectively; pre-dorsal-fin vertebrae 8 and pre-anal-fin vertebrae 67, total vertebrae 197; origin of dorsal fin slightly posterior to tip of appressed pectoral fin; chin with numerous small conical cirri; lateral line with 2-3 rows of dark spots above and below; interorbital space with 6-7 rows of dark spots; a large distinct white rectangular blotch on opercle; number and density of spots on head greater than those on body; lips spotted; ground color of body uniformly cream, no microscopic dark speckles (Ref. 121479).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Anguilliformes

Family: Congridae

Genus: Heteroconger

Species: Heteroconger fugax Koeda, Fujii & Motomura, 2018

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

This species forms colonies in muddy bottoms at depths of ca. 30 m off Amami-oshima island (its type locality). Photographic records from other localities were taken over sandy bottoms at depths of 10-12 m. Although sometimes exiting vertically more than 30 cm from their burrows, when approached, individuals immediately disappeared into the burrow with their head holding steadily at ca. several centimeters depth (visible from directly above the burrows). About 40 individuals were estimated for each colony, from a combination of underwater photographs and number of burrows (Ref. 121479).

Habitat

benthopelagic