Field notes
Encounter profile
Identified using iNaturalist WoRMS.
Bornella anguilla - Bornella - A marine genus.
Species profile
Eel Bornella
Bornella anguilla
Identified using iNaturalist WoRMS.
3
Media items
Photos and videos
3
Dives
Distinct encounters
2
Locations
1 trip
Photographic identification review
2/3 exact media auditedShared reviewed hypothesis
Bornella anguilla
Probable assessment across 2 exact media items. The archive is currently filed as Bornella anguilla; a reviewed hypothesis is evidence, not a silent relabelling.
Archive ecology
Conditions where we found it
SNAP observations, not the species’ full biological range.
- Depth evidence
- 7.8–8.6m
- Median 8.2m · n=2
- Water temperature
- 24.0–27.0°C
- Median 25.0°C · n=3
Depth basis: 0 recorded, 2 profile-estimated, 1 contextual.
An early signal
3 environment-linked observations are available so far. More encounters will show whether a repeatable pattern emerges.
View distributions & comparisons▾
Indicative archive pattern · 3 observations / 3 dives
Observed depth distributionmiddle 50%: 8.0–8.4m
- • These distributions describe photographs in SNAP, not a species’ complete biological range.
- • Depth distributions use recorded or capture-time profile estimates; dive-average and maximum context is excluded.
- • Time-of-day groups use the camera clock and are not corrected for sunrise, sunset, or timezone.
Creature trail
A life through time and place
Species field guide
Notes, taxonomy, identification & seasonality
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Species field guide
Notes, taxonomy, identification & seasonality
Identification audit
Audit history for photographed encounters
2 assessments across 2 exact media items. Each records who reviewed the image, when, what they concluded, and why. These assessments remain separate from iNaturalist computer vision and from the current canonical Gallery label.
ProbableLatest audit record
Conclusion: Bornella anguilla
Reviewed by Codex identification research on Aug 29, 2026 · 97% reviewer confidence.
Reasoning recorded at review
- Long, narrow body is strongly laterally compressed rather than carrying a broad mantle skirt
- Connected dark purplish-brown network encloses cream-white and orange patches across the body
- Tall rhinophore-sheath and dorsolateral flaps are strongly laterally flattened
- Visible flaps carry the characteristic central dark stripe bordered by pale cream-white and orange
- Paired dorsolateral processes followed by single middorsal keels are compatible with the three-pair plus three-single sequence
- Branched oral lobes and gills on the inner faces of anterior paired processes are visible as supporting Bornella anguilla structure
Alternatives considered
- Bornella stellifer
Why plausible: A widespread reticulate congener, but its more branched or bulbous processes and orange-reticulate body do not match the simple flattened striped flaps and dark mosaic here.
Comparison: A direct specimen comparison of process branching, radula and reproductive anatomy would resolve any residual overlap.
- Bornella sarape
Why plausible: Retained as a named congener, although the published yellow-brown and black pattern conflicts with this cream-dark-orange mosaic.
Comparison: Internal anatomy and an unobstructed count of every dorsal process would provide definitive exclusion.
- Other Bornella, including Bornella hermanni
Why plausible: Other congeners can be mottled, but generally have more branched, less laterally flattened rhinophore sheaths and processes.
Comparison: Radular and penial-armature characters or DNA are required for specimen-level confirmation.
Evidence limits & sources +−
- • Radula, reproductive anatomy and DNA are unavailable, so specimen-confirmed status is not possible
- • Some posterior processes overlap in the still and cannot all be counted with equal certainty
- • The distinctive anguilliform swimming behaviour was not recorded in this still photograph
Original description of Bornella anguilla ↗Primary paper · Johnson, S. (1984). Micronesica 19(1-2): 17-26. · Description and figs 1-2, pp. 17-21 · checked Aug 29, 2026 · full frame suppliedContribution: The body mosaic, compressed form, process sequence and striped flattened flaps agree with the original external diagnosis.Bornellidae systematic review ↗Primary paper · Pola, M., Rudman, W. B. & Gosliner, T. M. (2009). Zootaxa 1975: 1-57. · Bornella anguilla account, pp. 26-29 · checked Aug 29, 2026 · full frame suppliedContribution: The family-wide comparison supports the same external combination while preserving the internal-anatomy stop rule.
ProbableLatest audit record
Conclusion: Bornella anguilla
Reviewed by Codex identification research on Aug 29, 2026 · 97% reviewer confidence.
Reasoning recorded at review
- Long, narrow body is strongly laterally compressed rather than carrying a broad mantle skirt
- Connected dark purplish-brown network encloses cream-white and orange patches across the body
- Tall rhinophore-sheath and dorsolateral flaps are strongly laterally flattened
- Visible flaps carry the characteristic central dark stripe bordered by pale cream-white and orange
- Paired dorsolateral processes followed by single middorsal keels are compatible with the three-pair plus three-single sequence
- Branched oral lobes and gills on the inner faces of anterior paired processes are visible as supporting Bornella anguilla structure
Alternatives considered
- Bornella stellifer
Why plausible: A widespread reticulate congener, but its more branched or bulbous processes and orange-reticulate body do not match the simple flattened striped flaps and dark mosaic here.
Comparison: A direct specimen comparison of process branching, radula and reproductive anatomy would resolve any residual overlap.
- Bornella sarape
Why plausible: Retained as a named congener, although the published yellow-brown and black pattern conflicts with this cream-dark-orange mosaic.
Comparison: Internal anatomy and an unobstructed count of every dorsal process would provide definitive exclusion.
- Other Bornella, including Bornella hermanni
Why plausible: Other congeners can be mottled, but generally have more branched, less laterally flattened rhinophore sheaths and processes.
Comparison: Radular and penial-armature characters or DNA are required for specimen-level confirmation.
Evidence limits & sources +−
- • Radula, reproductive anatomy and DNA are unavailable, so specimen-confirmed status is not possible
- • Some posterior processes overlap in the still and cannot all be counted with equal certainty
- • The distinctive anguilliform swimming behaviour was not recorded in this still photograph
Original description of Bornella anguilla ↗Primary paper · Johnson, S. (1984). Micronesica 19(1-2): 17-26. · Description and figs 1-2, pp. 17-21 · checked Aug 29, 2026 · full frame suppliedContribution: The body mosaic, compressed form, process sequence and striped flattened flaps agree with the original external diagnosis.Bornellidae systematic review ↗Primary paper · Pola, M., Rudman, W. B. & Gosliner, T. M. (2009). Zootaxa 1975: 1-57. · Bornella anguilla account, pp. 26-29 · checked Aug 29, 2026 · full frame suppliedContribution: The family-wide comparison supports the same external combination while preserving the internal-anatomy stop rule.
Archive
All media records
3 media items
Optional context
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