African mottled eel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African mottled eel |
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| A. b. bengalensis | |
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A. b. bengalensis |
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The mottled eel (Anguilla bengalensis) is a cool type of eel. It's also called the African mottled eel or Indian longfin eel. These eels are known for living near the bottom of the water, which is called being demersal. They are also catadromous, meaning they live in freshwater but travel to the ocean to lay their eggs. They belong to the Anguillidae family of eels.
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About the Mottled Eel
This amazing eel was first described in 1844. It's a tropical fish that loves freshwater. You can find mottled eels in many places, including East Africa, Bangladesh, the Andaman Islands, Mozambique, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Indonesia, and even Madagascar.
Where Mottled Eels Live
Mottled eels spend most of their lives in freshwater. They usually live at depths of about 3 to 10 metres (10 to 33 feet). But when it's time to breed, they make a long journey. They migrate all the way to the Indian Ocean to lay their eggs.
What Mottled Eels Look Like
These eels can grow quite large! Male mottled eels can reach a total length of up to 121 centimetres (about 4 feet). They can also weigh as much as 7,000 grams (about 15 pounds).
What Mottled Eels Eat
Mottled eels are carnivores. They mostly eat creatures that live on the bottom of the water. Their diet includes:
- Crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp)
- Mollusks (like snails and clams)
- Other finfish
- Worms
Conservation Status
Even though mottled eels live in many different places, they are currently listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN Redlist. This means they could become endangered in the future if we don't protect them.
Why They Are Near Threatened
Mottled eels are sometimes caught by people for food. They are too big to be kept in home aquariums. Their numbers are being watched carefully to make sure they stay healthy in the wild.
Subspecies
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the mottled eel:
- Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis – This one is sometimes called the Indian mottled eel.
- Anguilla bengalensis labiata – This one is sometimes called the African mottled eel.
