Short-finned eel (Anguilla australis australis) fish species and information / pictures of Short-finned eel - Anguilla australis australis

Short-finned eel (Anguilla australis australis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Anguilla australis australis

Common Name
Short-finned eel

Biology
Occur in streams, lakes and swamps. More likely inhabits slow flowing streams or still waters (Ref. 26509). Feed on fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, aquatic plants, and terrestrial and aquatic insects. This species does not breed outside its Pacific spawning ground. Migrates to the sea to breed (Ref. 9258). Maximum length for female eel taken from Ref. 6390. Migrating females in Lake Ellesmere (Canterbury, New Zealand) were reported to be in the range of 48.3 to 102.4 cm, larger than for males 33.8 to 55.4 cm (Ref. 44724). Despite its slimy appearance, its flesh is of excellent quality, considered a delicacy in many countries; meat suitable for smoking (Ref. 33839).

Classification

Classified By

Richardson, 1841

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Freshwater eels (Anguillidae)

Distribution

Region

Southwest Pacific

Distribution

Southwest Pacific: east coast of Australia and New Zealand, extending north to New Caledonia. Museum records from Fiji and Tahiti are doubtful. Australian and New Zealand forms sometimes recognized as subspecies. Most easily confused with Anguilla obscura and the surest way of distinguishing them is to count the vertebrae. Reported from Western and American Samoa (Ref. 592).

Range

18°S - 47°S, 140°E - 168°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; catadromous; depth range 0 - ? m

Trophic Level

4.07 s.e. 0.72 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

130 cm

Common Length

65 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 (78 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=8-30; Fec=3,000,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated