Monopterus albus (Zuiew, 1793)

Swamp eel

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Synbranchiformes \| Synbranchidae
Synonyms	Muraena alba, Fluta alba, Apterigia immaculata, ... more
Common names	Lai, Belut, Rice swampeel, ... more

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Main reference

Talwar, P.K. and A.G. Jhingran. 1991. (Ref. 4833)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Fávorito, Sandra | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 100.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2686); common length : 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894)

Environment

Demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; depth range 3 - ? m (Ref. 2686)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 25°C - 28°C (Ref. 2060); 34°N - 6°S

Asia: India to China, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Probably occurring in Bangladesh.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Anguilliform body; no scales; no pectoral and pelvic fins; dorsal, caudal and anal fins confluent and reduced to a skin fold; gill openings merged into single slit underneath the head (Ref. 27732). Rice paddy eels are red to brown with a sprinkling of dark flecks across their backs; large mouths and small eyes (Ref. 44091).

Found in hill streams to lowland wetlands (Ref. 57235). Occurs in streamlets, canals and estuaries (Ref. 41236). Lives in muddy ponds, swamps and rice fields; burrows in moist earth in dry season surviving for long periods without water (Ref 2686). Common in rice paddies (Ref. 12693). Inhabits still water of swamps and ponds, but sometimes found in gently flowing streams. Often occurs in ephemeral waters (Ref. 44894). Occasionally dug out in old taro fields, in Hawaii, long after the field has been drained; more frequently observed in stream clearing operations using heavy equipment to remove large amounts of silt and vegetation where the eels are hidden (Ref. 44091). Found in medium to large rivers, flooded fields and stagnant waters including sluggish flowing canals (Ref. 12975). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Nocturnal predator devouring fishes, worms, crustaceans, and other small aquatic animals (Ref. 44091); also feeds on detritus. During the dry season the deepest parts of swamps are excavated to find them. Marketed fresh and can be kept alive for long periods of time as long as the skin is kept moist (Ref. 12693). Good flesh (Ref. 2686). Protandrous hermaphrodite. Important fisheries throughout Southeast Asia (Ref. 57235).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Biogeographic modelling \| Bio-Quiz \| E-book \| Field guide \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| LifeMapper \| Point map

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 1,000)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High vulnerability (64 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Ortañez, Auda Kareen

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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