African longfin eel
📖 Overview
Migratory species, which breeds in the ocean . Adults iInhabit both quiet and fast flowing water . Elvers ascend rivers mainly at night and overcome waterfalls and walls of dams with great determination. Adults usually sedentary. Females can attain 120 cm SL and are generally longer and heavier than males . Carnivorous, eats dead or living prey but especially fish and crabs. After feeding in fresh water for ten years or more, adults assume a silver breeding dress, the eyes become enlarged and they return to sea to breed. Considered to breed east of Madagascar, but thought to move south of that island on its way to the Mozambique coast and South African rivers . Flesh fatty but highly esteemed as smoked or jellied eel . Caught with various types of nets .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. : eel-like; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for African longfin eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Semelparous.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous . Tropical; 25°N - 35°S east coast rivers of Africa from Kenya south to Cape Agulhas, also in Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"African longfin 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 African longfin eel is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for African longfin eel has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | African longfin eel · Longfin Eel · Plain Long-finned Eel |
| 🌍AFR | Geelbek-Paling · Geelbekpaling |
| 🌍CES | úhoř mosambický |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Afrikansk ål |
| 🇫🇷French | Anguille du Mozambique · Anguille à Longue Nageoire |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | モザンビークウナギ |
| 🇵🇱Polish | węgorz mozambicki |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Мозамбикский речной угорь |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Anguila de Aleta Larga de Africa · Anguila de Mozambique |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 莫三比克鰻鱺 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla capensis | Kaup | 1859 | Synonym |
| Anguilla delalandi | Kaup | 1856 | Synonym |
| Muraena mossambica | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
| Tribranchus anguillaris | Peters | 1846 | Heterotypic |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 33 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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