Barred spiny eel (Macrognathus pancalus)

Scientific name: Macrognathus pancalus Hamilton, 1822

Barred spiny eel (Macrognathus pancalus)

The Barred spiny eel (Macrognathus pancalus) is a freshwater fish of the family Mastacembelidae. Native range: Asia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Reported from Nepal.

Biology

Inhabits slow and shallow waters of rivers of plains and estuaries; never available above an altitude of 366 m. Also found in canals, streams, beels, ponds and inundated fields. Has been placed into aquaria and kept by hobbyists; it stays on the bottom and spawns in the upper water-level. The more slender and generally smaller males pursue the female in courtship; several males may join in.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Macrognathus pancalus
Family
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Order
Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
18.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Asia: Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Reported from Nepal.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=1.0-1.7)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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