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Anguilla bengalensis (Gray, 1831) Indian mottled eel |
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| Indian longfin eel, Aarel, Aerel, Aheer, Ahir, Gnalu, Hanchu mennu, Hanchumeenu, Harimeenu, Malamgulu, Malugu, Maniangal, Mlangil, Naprum, Porivelangu, Porivilangu, Seram pambu, Serampamboo, Starry moray, Thumbi, Vellangoo, Vilangu, रज बाम, சேரம் பாம்பு, பொரி விலாங்கு, விலாங்கு, ആരല്, മലഞ്ഞില്, മലിഞ്ഞില്, വിളങ്ങ് | ||
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photo by
Ramani Shirantha |
| Family: | Anguillidae (Freshwater eels) | |||
| Max. size: | 200 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6,000.0 g | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; marine, catadromous | |||
| Distribution: | Asia: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and the East Indies. Reported from Nepal (Ref. 9496, 12045) and Bangladesh (Ref. 1479). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal soft rays (total): 250-305; Anal soft rays: 220-250; Vertebrae: 106-112. Body elongate, head conical, flattened dorsally. Mouth terminal, lips prominent, narrow bands of teeth on jaws, broad band on vomer. | |||
| Biology: | Lives in freshwaters, but also occurs in estuaries and in the sea during early life and near maturity (Ref. 4832). Occurs in freshwater streams, pools and reservoirs and commonly found in mud substrates of tanks and in deep rock pools of rivers (Ref. 41236). Most common eel in Indian inland waters. There exists a good export market for both live elvers and eels. Highly prized as food fish because of its nutritional value. Fish mucous from live fish mixed with rice or wheat flour is used as medicine for arthritis (Ref. 44150). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 10 August 2019 (A2cd) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
| Country info: | Known throughout India (Ref. 43638): in Maharashtra (Ref. 43634); Bhavani, Moyar, Tamil Nadu; Karimpuzha, Kunthipuzha; Arikayam puzha, Kerala (Ref. 44148); Andamans (Ref. 45255). There is a good live export market for both the elvers and the adults (Ref. 4832). Utilized as food by the tribal people, "Kanis" of Kanyakumari District (Ref. 45217). Highly prized as food fish because of its nutritional value. Fish mucous from live fish mixed with rice or wheat flour is used as medicine for arthritis. Also Ref. 43640. Status of threat: Endangered (Ref. 44150). | |||