garden eel
Sand-dwelling serpentine fish
A garden eel is a small, slender marine fish that lives in colonies on sandy sea floors, each eel occupying its own burrow.
They extend their upper bodies to feed on plankton while their tails remain anchored in the sand.
A colony resembles plants swaying in a garden—hence the name.
When threatened, they retract into their burrows and disappear.
Stretched beyond usual dimensions
- slenderThin and graceful
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
- taperedGradually narrowing in width
- cylindricalCircular in cross-section
svelte · graceful · lithe · narrow · slim · threadlike · spindly · snakelike
Rhythmic lateral movement
- filter-feedingTrapping particles from water
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- currentDirected flow of charge
- sedentaryCharacterized by much sitting
vigilant · retreat · emerge · stationary · wary · shy · colonial · synchronous
Fine rock particles
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
retreat · anchorage · excavate · dwelling · hideaway · den · hole · ingress
Marine skeletal formation
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
atoll · tropical · underwater · marine park · Indo-Pacific · seagrass · warm waters
Large storage vessel
- exhibitItem publicly displayed
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- captivityState of being confined
- displayPresentation for viewing
observation · husbandry · marine aquarium · public aquarium · hobbyist · saltwater tank
elongated
Stretched beyond usual dimensions
- slenderThin and graceful
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
- taperedGradually narrowing in width
cylindrical · svelte · graceful · lithe · narrow · slim · threadlike · spindly · snakelike · flexible
swaying
Rhythmic lateral movement
- filter-feedingTrapping particles from water
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- currentDirected flow of charge
sedentary · vigilant · retreat · emerge · stationary · wary · shy · colonial · synchronous · alert
sand
Fine rock particles
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
colony · retreat · anchorage · excavate · dwelling · hideaway · den · hole · ingress · emerge
coral
Marine skeletal formation
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
lagoon · atoll · tropical · underwater · marine park · Indo-Pacific · seagrass · warm waters
tank
Large storage vessel
- exhibitItem publicly displayed
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- captivityState of being confined
display · observation · husbandry · marine aquarium · public aquarium · hobbyist · saltwater tank