Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Anguillidae (Freshwater eels)
Etymology: Anguilla: Latin, anguilla, .-ae = eel (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Johannes Theodor Reinhardt (1816–1882) was a Danish zoologist who was Director of the National Natural History Museum, Copenhagen. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Steindachner.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 3000 m (Ref. 86942). Tropical; 10°S - 43°S, 141°E - 161°E (Ref. 57367)
Asia and Oceania: New Guinea, eastern Australia, including Tasmania, Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 165 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 82796); 158.0 cm TL (female); common length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259); max. published weight: 22.0 kg (Ref. 82796); max. reported age: 41 years (Ref. 6390)
Characterized by mottled color and tooth bands with a separated inner series. The only other species within its range with these characters is Anguilla marmorata, but that species has a longer dorsal fin (Ref. 9828).
Occur in coastal lagoons, rivers, streams, lakes, swamps and farm dams, but prefers riverine habitats (Ref. 26509, 44894). Usually found in deep waters of reservoirs well away from the shore. Mature adults undertake annual spawning migrations to oceanic waters (Ref. 44894). Mainly nocturnal feeders. Feed on crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic and terrestrial insects, fish including elvers and native trout. Maximum size for female longfin eel taken from Ref. 6390. A reasonably good angling fish which may grow to 22 kilograms (Ref. 44894).
Allen, G.R., 1989. Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. (Ref. 5259)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 3.8 - 12.7, mean 5.5 °C (based on 94 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00076 (0.00037 - 0.00157), b=3.17 (3.00 - 3.34), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.56 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=8-30; tmax=41, Fec=5 million).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
