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Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) >
Synbranchidae (Swamp-eels)
Etymology: Synbranchus: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Bloch.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Subtropical; 22°C - 34°C (Ref. 36880)
Central and South America: Mexico to northern Argentina.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 79717); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35237)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Body cylindrical and long; eyes small; dorsal and anal fins vestigial (Ref. 26543).
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); 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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
A diandric species having both primary and secondary male developmental pathways. Length at sex change = 34.0 cm TL (Ref. 55367). Also Ref. 35344, 103751.
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. (Ref. 79717)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00091 (0.00058 - 0.00143), b=3.08 (2.95 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.8 ±0.51 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 61.2 [27.2, 179.0] mg/100g; Iron = 1.04 [0.48, 2.53] mg/100g; Protein = 18.6 [16.4, 20.6] %; Omega3 = 0.137 [0.065, 0.296] g/100g; Selenium = 18.4 [7.0, 49.4] μg/100g; VitaminA = 10.4 [2.5, 42.9] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.889 [0.522, 1.479] mg/100g (wet weight);
