Giant mottled eel
📖 Overview
Live in freshwater areas as adults, estuaries and seas as young . Found in lowland rivers as well as upland tributaries . While in river, the sex gland does not develop. But in winter when they move from the stream to river mouth, the sex gland begins to develop as mature individuals go to deep sea to breed . The spawning grounds are deep sea gullies among the south of the Philippines, east of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea . Are active at night, feeding on a wide range of prey , especially crabs, frogs and fish . Thought to breed east of Madagascar where the young are wafted to the East Coast by ocean currents .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Vertebrae: 100 - 110. Diagnosis: Distinguished from all other species by the mottled colour and the long dorsal fin, which begins closer to the gill opening than to the anus .: eel-like.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Giant mottled eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Giant mottled eel is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Semelparous.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous ; depth range 0 - 3000 m . Tropical; 46°N - 39°S, 18°E - 89°W South Africa, inland Mozambique and lower Zambezi River to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, east to Galapagos.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Giant mottled eel is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Giant mottled eel is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Giant mottled eel has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Giant Long-finned Eel · Giant mottled eel · Madagascar Eel · marbled eel |
| 🌍AFR | Madagaskar-bontpaling · Reus-bontpaling |
| 🌍CES | úhoř mramorovaný |
| 🌍CHA | Hasule |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Marmoreret kæmpeål |
| 🇫🇷French | Anguille marbrée · Anguille, Anguille marbrée, Congre · grande anguille marbrée |
| 🌍IND | Sidat kembang |
| 🇮🇹Italian | anguilla marmorata |
| 🌍JAV | Lumbon · Pelus · Sidang · Uling kembang |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Ounagi · オオウナギ · 大鰻 |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 무태장어 |
| 🌍MSA | Moa |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Мадагаскарский речной угорь |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Anguila Malgache · anguilla moteada gigante |
| 🌍TGL | Igat |
| 🌍THA | Pla Lai Yak · ปลาเอี่ยนหู |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 土龍 · 烏耳鰻 · 花鰻 · 花鰻鱺 · 花鳗鲡 · 鱸鰻 · 黑鰻 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla fidjiensis | Günther | 1870 | Synonym |
| Anguilla hildebrandti | Sauvage | 1891 | Heterotypic |
| Anguilla johannae | Günther | 1867 | Synonym |
| Anguilla labrosa | Richardson | 1848 | Synonym |
| Anguilla marmolata | Quoy & Gaimard | 1824 | Synonym |
| Anguilla mauritiana | Bennett | 1831 | Synonym |
| Anguilla ohannae | Günther | 1867 | Synonym |
| Muraena manillensis | Bleeker | 1864 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 42 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Giant mottled eel ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.