Speckled longfin eel

Speckled longfin eel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Anguillidae
Genus: Anguilla
Species: A. reinhardtii
Binomial name
Anguilla reinhardtii
Steindachner, 1867

The speckled longfin eel, Australian long-finned eel or marbled eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) is one of 15 species of eel in the family Anguillidae. It has a long snake-like cylindrical body with its dorsal, tail and anal fins joined to form one long fin. It usually has a brownish green or olive green back and sides with small darker spots or blotches all over its body. Its underside is paler.[1] It has a small gill opening on each side of its wide head, with thick lips. It is Australia's largest freshwater eel, and the female usually grows much larger than the male.[1][2] It is also known as the spotted eel.

Description

Long-finned eels can grow to 1.6 metres and 22 kg (although generally to 1 metre) for females while males are much smaller at 650 mm and 600 g.[3] Landlocked eels have been reported to grow to 3 metres (10 feet).[2]

Distribution

The long-finned eel is a native of New Guinea, eastern Australia (including Tasmania), Lord Howe Island, and New Caledonia.[1] It can be found in many freshwater areas, including creeks, streams, rivers, swamps, dams, lagoons, and lakes although generally more often in rivers than lakes.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Allen, G.R.; Midgley, S.H.; Allen, M. (2002). Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth, Western Australia: Western Australian Museum. p. 64. ISBN 0-7307-5486-3.
  2. 1 2 3 Merrick, J.R.; Schmida, G.E. (1984). Australian Freshwater Fishes, Biology and Management. Sydney: Author. pp. 61–63. ISBN 0-9591908-0-5.
  3. ↑ Robert McDowall, ed. (1996). Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia (Rev Ed). Sydney: Reed Books. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0-86622-936-1.
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