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LONGFINNED EEL FACTS |
Description
The Longfinned Eel has a broad head, strong pectoral fins and a large mouth with fleshy lips. It has olive or brown blotches on the back and sides, with paler underside. The fins are brown and pectoral fins are yellowish brown. The only other similar eel is the Shortfinned Eel (Anguilla australis). The Longfinned Eel has dorsal fin starting well in front of the anal fin origin. The Shortfinned Eel has dorsal fin above the anal fin, and does not have a blotched pattern.
Size
length to 2m. Weight to 20kg. Eels with no access to the sea can grow to 3m long
Habitat
found in coastal lagoons, rivers, streams, lakes, swamps. Usually found in flowing deep waters well away from the shore.
Food
Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, insects, fish, some young waterfowl. Mainly nocturnal feeders.
Breeding
Mature adults migrate to the ocean each year to their spawning grounds near New Caledonia. Female eels can produce millions of eggs. Young eels return to the rivers and swim upstream and spend several years maturing in freshwater.
Range
Found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia. In Australia, it is found along the east coast from Cape York to Melbourne. It is also founds in northern and eastern parts of Tasmania and Lord Howe Island.
Classification
| Class: | Actinopterygii | | Order: | Anguilliformes | | Family: | Anguillidae | | Genus: | Anguilla | | Species: | reinhardtii | | Common Name: | Longfinned Eel |
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