Mastacembelus | |
---|---|
Mastacembelus moorii | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Synbranchiformes |
Family: | Mastacembelidae |
Genus: |
Mastacembelus Scopoli, 1777 |
Type species | |
Ophidium mastacembelus J. Banks & Solander, 1794
[1]
| |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Mastacembelus is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). [4] Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids [5]), but there are also species in other freshwater habitats and a particularly rich radiation is found in the Lake Tanganyika basin with 15 species (14 endemic). [6] [7] A few species can even occur in brackish water. [8]
The size and pattern varies greatly depending on the exact species of Mastacembelus. The smallest are M. latens and M. simba, which only reach a maximum total length of 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in). [4] [5] At up to 1 m (3.3 ft), the largest of both the family and this genus is M. erythrotaenia. [4] [9] M. erythrotaenia, often known as the fire eel, is blackish with an orange-red pattern, and it is a popular aquarium fish. [9] Otherwise species in this genus are typically brownish and often have a spotted, speckled or mottled pattern, either in another brown hue, grayish or yellowish. This pattern is reflected in the common name of another species sometimes kept in aquariums, the zig-zag eel M. armatus (alternatively called the tire track eel, a name otherwise used for M. favus). A few others also occasionally appear in the aquarium trade, [9] and some are considered good food fish and eaten locally. [8] M aviceps, M. brichardi, M. crassus and M. latens are found in dark, deep parts of the Congo River and sometimes shallower among rocks. These four species have reduced eyes and are all pinkish-white in color (non- pigmented), similar to cavefish. [5]
In an evaluation of the Mastacembelidae in 2005, the genera Caecomastacembelus and Aethiomastacembelus (formerly used for the African species) were placed in synonymy with Mastacembelus. [2]
According to FishBase, there are currently 61 recognized species in this genus. [4] 4 additional species (marked with a star* in the list) are recognized by Catalog of Fishes. [11]
Mastacembelus | |
---|---|
Mastacembelus moorii | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Synbranchiformes |
Family: | Mastacembelidae |
Genus: |
Mastacembelus Scopoli, 1777 |
Type species | |
Ophidium mastacembelus J. Banks & Solander, 1794
[1]
| |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Mastacembelus is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). [4] Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids [5]), but there are also species in other freshwater habitats and a particularly rich radiation is found in the Lake Tanganyika basin with 15 species (14 endemic). [6] [7] A few species can even occur in brackish water. [8]
The size and pattern varies greatly depending on the exact species of Mastacembelus. The smallest are M. latens and M. simba, which only reach a maximum total length of 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in). [4] [5] At up to 1 m (3.3 ft), the largest of both the family and this genus is M. erythrotaenia. [4] [9] M. erythrotaenia, often known as the fire eel, is blackish with an orange-red pattern, and it is a popular aquarium fish. [9] Otherwise species in this genus are typically brownish and often have a spotted, speckled or mottled pattern, either in another brown hue, grayish or yellowish. This pattern is reflected in the common name of another species sometimes kept in aquariums, the zig-zag eel M. armatus (alternatively called the tire track eel, a name otherwise used for M. favus). A few others also occasionally appear in the aquarium trade, [9] and some are considered good food fish and eaten locally. [8] M aviceps, M. brichardi, M. crassus and M. latens are found in dark, deep parts of the Congo River and sometimes shallower among rocks. These four species have reduced eyes and are all pinkish-white in color (non- pigmented), similar to cavefish. [5]
In an evaluation of the Mastacembelidae in 2005, the genera Caecomastacembelus and Aethiomastacembelus (formerly used for the African species) were placed in synonymy with Mastacembelus. [2]
According to FishBase, there are currently 61 recognized species in this genus. [4] 4 additional species (marked with a star* in the list) are recognized by Catalog of Fishes. [11]