Palauan primitive cave eel
📖 Overview
Palauan primitive cave eel (Protanguilla palau) is a ray-finned fish. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 17.6 cm. With a trophic level of 3.5, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Gill opening terminates as ovoid tube with low, fringed collar; pseudobranch present; knob-like, toothed gill rakers present; premaxilla present, autogenous; symplectic autogenous; metapterygoid present; anterior end of vomer with small, ovoid, autogenous toothplate; body relatively short, total vertebrae 87 or fewer (79–87, mean ¼ 83.3); hypurals 3 and 4 not fused to each other; pterosphenoid not excluded from posterior margin of orbit .: eel-like.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Palauan primitive cave eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 35 - ? m . Tropical; 9°N - 6°N, 134°E - 135°E known from a western fringing reef of Ngemelis Island, in a reef cave at 35 m depth.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Palauan primitive cave eel ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.