Scientific Name
Anguilla dieffenbachii

Common Name
New Zealand longfin eel

Biology
Commonly found in lakes and rivers (Ref. 9258). Inhabits stony rivers (Ref. 9072). Migrates to the sea to breed. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Marketed fresh, smoked and frozen; eaten fried and broiled (Ref. 9988). Reports of reaching up to 2 meters and 50 kilograms are rare and more common historically; in recent times, only a few exceed 120 cm TL (Ref. 82796).

Classification

Classified By

Gray, 1842

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Freshwater eels (Anguillidae)

Distribution

Region

Southwest Pacific

Distribution

Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand.

Range

34°S - 47°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

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

4.49 s.e. 0.80 Based on diet studies.

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

185 cm

Common Length

100 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: commercial; aquaculture: experimental

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (89 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Tmax=60; tm=10-48 years based on age-length relationship.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated