Zebra / Banded Garden Eel

The Banded or Zebra Garden Eel (Heteroconger polyzona) is a species of Garden Eel (and a member of the Conger Eel family, Congridae). They are mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical shallow waters not exceeding 15 metres. Their distribution is the western Pacific and Coral Triangle, including The Philippines, Indonesia, southern Japan and some southern Pacific islands. They spend nearly all their lives in the sand, raising their heads and upper/frontal bodies out to collect plankton. They are very shy and will retreat back into the sand at the slightest sign of danger.