Speckled longfin eel

Taxobox
name = Speckled longfin eel


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Anguilliformes
familia = Anguillidae
genus = "Anguilla"
species = "A. reinhardtii"
range_

range_map_caption=
binomial = "Anguilla reinhardtii"
binomial_authority = Steindachner, 1867

The speckled longfin eel or Australian long-finned 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. [http://calamvalecreek.awardspace.com/elwood.html] It has a small gill opening on each side of its wide head, with thick lips. [http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/angling/Introduction/fishmentioned.htm#eels] It is Australia's largest freshwater eel, and the female grows much larger than the male. [http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/recreational/fish/long-finned_eel] It is also known as the spotted eel.

Distribution

The long-finned eel is a native of New Guinea, eastern Australia (including Tasmania), Lord Howe Island, and New Caledonia. Specimens have been found in some Pacific islands and in New Zealand. [http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/bestfishguide/species/eels.asp] [http://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/ifs/IFSDatabaseManager/SpeciesDatabase/long-finned-eel] It can be found in many freshwater areas, including creeks, streams, rivers, swamps, dams, lagoons, and lakes. [http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/recreational/fish/long-finned_eel]

Size and lifespan

Long-finned eels can grow to 2 metres (6 feet) for males and 1.58 metres for females, although landlocked eels can grow to 3 metres (10 feet) and weigh 20 kilograms (more than 40 pounds). [http://calamvalecreek.awardspace.com/elwood.html] They can live more than 100 years. [http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/recreational/fish/long-finned_eel]

Diet

Long-finned eels are carnivorous, eating crustaceans, snails, frogs, molluscs, insect larvae, and fish — including elvers and native trout. They will also take small waterfowl.

Breeding and migration

Like the other anguillids, speckled longfin eels are catadromous: when they reach maturity, they stop feeding and migrate downstream to the sea. They may travel up to three or four thousand kilometres to a spawning ground. The larvae drift on the ocean currents and eventually reach coastal waters, where they metamorphose into elvers (tiny, semi-transparent eels). From there, they migrate upstream, traversing numerous obstacles — if necessary, leaving the water and travelling short distances over moist ground. They are well fitted to this task, being able to absorb 50% of the oxygen they need through the skin. Eventually, they take up residence in a lake, swamp, dam or river, where they remain until they reach maturity.

References

*
* [http://www.niwascience.co.nz/rc/freshwater/fishatlas/species/australian_longfin_eel NIWA 2006]
* [http://calamvalecreek.awardspace.com/elwood.html Critters of Calamvale Creek]
* [http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/angling/Introduction/fishmentioned.htm#eels Department of Primary Industries Victoria]
* [http://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/ifs/IFSDatabaseManager/SpeciesDatabase/long-finned-eel Inland Fisheries Service Tasmania Long-finned eel fact sheet]
* [http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/recreational/fish/long-finned_eel New South Wales Department of Fisheries]
* [http://www.amonline.net.au/FISHES/fishfacts/fish/areinhard.htm Australian Museum fish facts]
* [http://www.auseco.com.au/?action=page.view&page=138 AUSECO]
* [http://www.http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/bestfishguide/species/eels.asp Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society]