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.[2] 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.[2][3] It is also known as the spotted eel.
| Speckled longfin eel | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Anguillidae |
| Genus: | Anguilla |
| Species: | A. reinhardtii
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| Binomial name | |
| Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner, 1867
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Description edit
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.[4] Landlocked eels have been reported to grow to 3 metres (10 feet).[3]
Distribution edit
The long-finned eel is a native of New Guinea, eastern Australia (including Tasmania), Lord Howe Island, and New Caledonia.[2] 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.[3]
Breeding and migration edit
Like other Anguilla species, the eel lives predominantly in freshwater rivers and streams, but is born in deep waters of the ocean. Each species has its own spawning grounds; spawn use ocean currents to return to their adult species range. The long-finned eel spawns in the Western arm of the Southern Equatorial Current,[5] which carries spawn to the eastern coast of Australia. This species is panmictic, spawning throughout the year.[6]
Diet edit
A carnivorous species, the speckled longfin eel eats an assortment of aquatic vertebrates, such as fish, turtles, and small birds.[7]
References edit
- ^ Pike, C.; Crook, V.; Gollock, M. (2019) [errata version of 2019 assessment]. "Anguilla reinhardtii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T196303A154801946. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T196303A154801946.en. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Aoyama, Jun (2009). "Life History and Evolution of Migration in Catodromous Eels (Genus Anguilla)". Aqua-BioScience Monographs. 2: 23. doi:10.5047/absm.2009.00201.0001. S2CID 53319110.
- ^ Shen, Kang-Ning; Tzeng, Wann-Nian (2007). "Population Genetic Structure of the Year-Round Spawning Tropical Eel, Anguilla reinhardtii, in Australia". Zoological Studies. 46: 451. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.654.2742.
- ^ "Anguilla reinhardtii". www.jcu.edu.au. 2015-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Anguilla reinhardtii" in FishBase. February 2006 version.
- Critters of Calamvale Creek
- Inland Fisheries Service Tasmania Long-finned eel fact sheet
- AUSECO
- Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society