Scientific Name
Anguilla bengalensis labiata

Common Name
African mottled eel

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Dorsal fin origin is about midway between pectoral fin and anus. Caudal fin confluent with dorsal and anal fin. Body is mottled with dark brown pigmentation.

Classification

Classified By

Peters, 1852

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Freshwater eels (Anguillidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Kenya to South Africa (Ref. 3506); Reunion and Mauritius (Ref. 33390). Uncommon south of the Save River. Dominant in the Zambezi system and farther north in East Africa. Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis is the Indian subspecies (Ref. 3971).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

3.69 s.e. 0.59 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

175 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = No PD50 data many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (87 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tmax=15)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated