Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Anguillidae (Freshwater eels)
Etymology: Anguilla: Latin, anguilla, .-ae = eel (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Gray.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; catadromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 23°N - 33°S
Asia: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and the East Indies. Reported from Nepal (Ref. 9496, 12045) and Bangladesh (Ref. 1479).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 85009); common length : 80.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4832); max. published weight: 6.0 kg (Ref. 1479)
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.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Talwar, P.K. and A.G. Jhingran, 1991. Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. vol 1. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. i-liv + 1-541, 1 map (Ref. 4832)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: likely future use; gamefish: yes
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