Scientific Name
Mastacembelus brichardi

Common Name
Blind spiny eel

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 27 - 28; Dorsal soft rays (total): 53-57; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 56 - 61; Vertebrae: 72 - 74

Classification

Classified By

Poll, 1958

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Spiny eels (Synbranchiformes)

Family

Spiny eels (Mastacembelidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: endemic to Lower Congo River rapids.

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

Freshwater; demersal

Trophic Level

3.36 s.e. 0.54 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

17.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: ; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)