New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Data Deficient 🌡️ Tropical

Hawaiian spaghetti eel

Moringua hawaiiensis Snyder, 1904
Max Length
45.4 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Vulnerability
42.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone

📖 Overview

Overview information for Hawaiian spaghetti eel is currently being compiled by our editorial team.

Scientific Name
Moringua hawaiiensis
Authority
Snyder, 1904
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
DD
Max Length
45.4 cm
Latitude
16°S – 25°N
Trophic Level
3.3
Vulnerability
42.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Vertebrae: 188 - 130. This species is characterized by the following: males with 118-122 vertebrae, females 122-130; lateral line pores posterior to gill opening in males 95-104, females 101-108; body depth 40-70 in TL; tail 3.0-3.4 in TL; head 12.5-17 in TL; eyes over posterior part of gape, in immature individuals are minute, in adults about 2 in snout length; at front of snout, anterior nostrils in a short tube; before upper part of eye, posterior nostrils a large aperture; teeth on jaws and vomer are conical and uniserial, the intermaxilla with 7 moderately large recurved teeth; dorsal fin origin about 2/3 HL posterior to anus; in immature eels, the pectoral fins are not detectable, in mature males about as long as gape; color in life of immatures pink to purplish pink anteriorly, pale yellow posteriorly, mature adults distinctly bicolored, dark gray above, white below, caudal fin partly blackish .: eel-like.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Hawaiian spaghetti eel is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Hawaiian spaghetti eel is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Hawaiian spaghetti eel is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 40 m . Tropical; 25°N - 16°S, 171°W - 154°W Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Island; probably Easter Island and other islands of Polynesia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine
Trophic Level
3.3±0.3

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00102 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
45.4cm
Vertebrae
159

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Data Deficient
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
42.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
25°N – 16°S
Described By
Snyder, 1904

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet — be the first to log one!

View all observations for Hawaiian spaghetti eel ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.