Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) > Synbranchidae (Swamp-eels)
Etymology: Synbranchus: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335). More on author: Bloch.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Subtropical; 22°C - 34°C (Ref. 36880)

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 79717); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35237)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Body cylindrical and long; eyes small; dorsal and anal fins vestigial (Ref. 26543).

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions | Faunafri

Central and South America: Mexico to northern Argentina.

Anguilliform, has no pectoral and ventral fins; its dorsal and anal fins are vestigial (Ref. 27188). Adults inhabit streams, ponds, canals, drains, rice fields, both clear and turbid water (Ref. 11225). Nocturnal (Ref. 11225). Carnivore (Ref. 26543). The male guards and builds nest or burrow (Ref. 205). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Its being a facultative air-breather (Ref. 1468) explains, at least in part, why it is often missing from faunal inventories. At the start of the dry season when there's a decline in water level, it digs a tubular burrow in a bank or on the bottom. This burrow, which is for the most part sub-horizontal , can have several diverticula, followed by a vertical section which leads to the exterior by only one opening. Although breathing is slowed down, the fish remains active and flees if it is disturbed (Ref. 27188).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Fávorito, Sandra | Collaborators

Kullander, S.O., 2003. Family Synbranchidae (Swamp-eels). p. 594-595. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

More information

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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00114 (-0.13972 - 0.14199), b=3.06 (2.97 - 3.15), based on LWR estimates for species & family-BS (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 2.8 ±0.51 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): .

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High to very high vulnerability (74 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Synbranchus marmoratus Bloch, 1795