Anguilla mossambica (Peters, 1852)

African longfin eel

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

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Anguilliformes \| Anguillidae
Synonyms	Muraena mossambica, Anguilla capensis, Anguilla delalandi, ... more
Common names	Anguille du Mozambique, Afrikanischer Langflossenaal, Úhoř mosambický, ... more

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Image of Anguilla mossambica (African longfin eel)

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This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Castle, P.H.J. 1984. (Ref. 3506)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3506); 120 cm SL (female); max. published weight: 750 g (Ref. 5214); max. published weight: 5,000.0 g; max. reported age: 20 years (Ref. 48660)

Environment

Demersal; catadromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; marine

Climate / Range

Tropical; 25°N - 35°S

Western Indian Ocean: east coast rivers of Africa from Kenya south to Cape Agulhas, also Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands. Moves well inland. Reported from New Caledonia (Ref. 11889).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Olive to greyish black dorsally, lighter ventrally (Ref. 3971). Caudal fin confluent with dorsal and anal.

Migratory species, which breeds in the ocean (Ref. 52331). Inhabits both quiet and fast flowing water (Ref. 13337). Elvers ascend rivers mainly at night and overcome waterfalls and walls of dams with great determination. Adults usually sedentary. Females can attain 120 cm SL and are generally longer and heavier than males (Ref. 48660). Carnivorous, eats dead or living prey but especially fish and crabs. After feeding in fresh water for ten years or more, adults assume a silver breeding dress, the eyes become enlarged and they return to sea to breed. Considered to breed east of Madagascar, but thought to move south of that island on its way to the Mozambique coast and South African rivers (Ref. 13337). Flesh fatty but highly esteemed as smoked or jellied eel (Ref. 5214). Caught with various types of nets (Ref. 4967).


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

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes


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

Tools
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Special reports
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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.04)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high vulnerability (81 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Busson, Frédéric

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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