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Diadromous Endangered 🌡️ Subtropical

Japanese eel

Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica)
Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica)
Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica)
Max Length
150 cm
Max Weight
1.9 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
1–400 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
71.00/100
Typical Length
40 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Spawning occurs in the sea; small eels ascend the rivers in schools; develop and grow in freshwater. The species may crawl over land at night from one place to another . Adults feed on crustaceans, insects and fish . Maximum weight given (1889 g) has a maximum length of 100.8 cm TL in Ref. 82795. Utilized fresh, smoked, canned and frozen; eaten steamed, broiled and baked . Used in Chinese medicine .

Scientific Name
Anguilla japonica
Authority
Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
Habitat
Diadromous
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
EN
Max Length
150 cm
Max Weight
1.9 kg
Depth Range
1–400 m
Trophic Level
3.6
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
71.00/100
Migration
Catadromous
Water Temp
4–27 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Vertebrae: 114 - 118. Plain-colored.: eel-like.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Japanese eel is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

Semelparous. Assuming reproductive mode to be the same as that of Anguilla anguilla.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous ; depth range 1 - 400 m . Subtropical; 4°C - 27°C ; 46°N - 15°N, 105°E - 170°E East China Sea, Taiwan, Korea, China and northern Philippines.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Catadromous
Trophic Level
3.6±0.51
🐠 Schooling
Food Items

crustaceans, insects and fish (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00062 × L3.18 (TL)
Max TL
150cm
Max Weight
1,900g
Vertebrae
116

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
4–27°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Endangered
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
71.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Temminck & Schlegel, 1846

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Japanese eel
🌍CES úhoř japonský
🇩🇪German Japanischer Aal
🇫🇷French anguille du Japon
🇯🇵Japanese Nihon-unagi · Unagi · ウナギ · ニホンウナギ
🇰🇷Korean 뱀장어
🇳🇱Dutch Japanse paling
🌍NNO japansk ål
🌍NOB japansk ål
🇵🇱Polish węgorz japoński
🇵🇹Portuguese Enguia-japonesa
🇷🇺Russian Японский речной угорь
🇪🇸Spanish anguila japonesa · Anguila Nipona
🇸🇪Swedish japansk ål
🌍TGL Igat
🌍THA Pla Lai Yeepun
🇨🇳Chinese Man Yu · 土鰻 · 日本鰻 · 日本鰻鱺 · 日本鳗鲡 · 正鰻 · 淡水鰻 · 白鰻 · 白鱔 · 鰻鱺

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Anguilla angustidens Kaup 1856 Synonym
Anguilla breviceps Chu & Jin 1984 Synonym
Anguilla manabei Jordan 1913 Synonym
Anguilla nigricans Chu & Wu 1984 Synonym
Anguilla remifera Jordan & Evermann 1902 Synonym
Anguilla sinensis McClelland 1843 Synonym
Muraena pekinensis Basilewsky 1855 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1,076 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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