Scientific Name
Anguilla mossambica

Common Name
African longfin eel

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Olive to greyish black dorsally, lighter ventrally (Ref. 3971). Caudal fin confluent with dorsal and anal.

Classification

Classified By

Peters, 1852

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Freshwater eels (Anguillidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: east coast rivers of Africa from Kenya south to Cape Agulhas, also Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands. Moves well inland. Reported from New Caledonia (Ref. 11889).

Range

25°N - 35°S

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

3.3 s.e. 0.55 Based on food items.

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

150 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: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (81 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.04)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated