Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner, 1867
Speckled longfin eel
photo by Pöllabauer, C.

Family:  Anguillidae (Freshwater eels)
Max. size:  165 cm TL (male/unsexed); 158 cm TL (female); max.weight: 22 kg; max. reported age: 41 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 3000 m, catadromous
Distribution:  Asia and Oceania: New Guinea, eastern Australia, including Tasmania, Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  Characterized by mottled color and tooth bands with a separated inner series. The only other species within its range with these characters is Anguilla marmorata, but that species has a longer dorsal fin (Ref. 9828).
Biology:  Occur in coastal lagoons, rivers, streams, lakes, swamps and farm dams, but prefers riverine habitats (Ref. 26509, 44894). Usually found in deep waters of reservoirs well away from the shore. Mature adults undertake annual spawning migrations to oceanic waters (Ref. 44894). Mainly nocturnal feeders. Feed on crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic and terrestrial insects, fish including elvers and native trout. Maximum size for female longfin eel taken from Ref. 6390. A reasonably good angling fish which may grow to 22 kilograms (Ref. 44894).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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