African longfin eel
(Anguilla mossambica)
General data
Scientific names:
African longfin eel
Local names:
Longfin eel
Habitat:
Catadromous
Climate:
Tropical
Native:
Africa
The African longfin eel (Anguilla mossambica), also known simply as the longfin eel, is an eel in the family Anguillidae. It was described by Wilhelm Peters in 1852, originally under the genus Muraena.
It is a tropical eel known from freshwaters in southern Kenya, Cape Agulhas, Madagascar, and New Caledonia.
The eels spend most of their lives in freshwaters far inland, but migrate to the Western Indian Ocean to breed.
Males can reach a maximum total length of 150 centimetres; females can reach a maximum standard length of 120 centimetres and a maximum weight of 5 kg.
The eels can live for about 20 years.
Juveniles and adults are known to feed off of carcasses, crabs, and bony fish.
