Scientific Name
Ophisternon gutturale
Common Name
Australian swamp eel
Biology
Occur in backwaters of rivers, swamps, and stagnant ponds. Inhabit soft bottom sediments in quiet, well-vegetated backwaters of brackish estuaries and nearby swamps. Found in lower freshwater reaches of rivers. Cryptic, nocturnally active species, which burrow in bottom sediments. The male guards and builds nest or burrow (Ref. 205). The best chance of sighting this elusive fish is by spotlighting along thickly vegetated margins of suitable habitats at night. They are capable of surviving short periods out of water. A current taxonomic study of this family indicates this species probably should be placed in a new genus (Ref. 44894).