Speckled longfin eel
| Speckled longfin eel | |
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| Species: | A. reinhardtii
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| Binomial name | |
| Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner, 1867
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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]
Breeding and migration
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References
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c Merrick, J.R.; Schmida, G.E. (1984). Australian Freshwater Fishes, Biology and Management. Sydney: Author. pp. 61–63. ISBN 0-9591908-0-5.
- ^ Robert McDowall, ed. (1996). Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia (Rev Ed). Sydney: Reed Books. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0-86622-936-1.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Anguilla reinhardtii". FishBase. February 2006 version.
- Critters of Calamvale Creek
- Inland Fisheries Service Tasmania Long-finned eel fact sheet
- AUSECO
- Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
