New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

Diadromous Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Tropical

Speckled longfin eel

Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner, 1867
Max Length
165 cm
Max Weight
22.0 kg
Lifespan
41 yrs
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
0–3000 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
87.00/100
Typical Length
100 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Adults occur in coastal lagoons, rivers, streams, lakes, swamps and farm dams, but prefer riverine habitats . Usually found in deep waters of reservoirs well away from the shore. Mature adults undertake annual spawning migrations to oceanic waters . Mainly nocturnal feeders. They feed on crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic and terrestrial insects, fish including elvers and native trout. Maximum size for female longfin eel taken from Ref. 6390. A reasonably good angling fish which may grow to 22 kilograms .

Scientific Name
Anguilla reinhardtii
Authority
Steindachner, 1867
Habitat
Diadromous
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
165 cm
Max Weight
22 kg
Lifespan
41 years
Depth Range
0–3000 m
Trophic Level
3.6
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
87.00/100
Migration
Catadromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Characterized by mottled color and tooth bands with a separated inner series. The only other species within its range with these characters is Anguilla marmorata, but that species has a longer dorsal fin .: eel-like.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Speckled longfin eel is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Speckled longfin eel is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Semelparous.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous ; depth range 0 - 3000 m . Tropical; 10°S - 43°S, 141°E - 161°E

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Catadromous
Trophic Level
3.6±0.56
🌙 Nocturnal
Food Items

crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic and terrestrial insects, fish including elvers and native trout

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00076 × L3.17 (TL)
Max TL
165cm
Max Weight
22,000g

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
87.00/100
Very High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Steindachner, 1867

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Speckled longfin eel is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • 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
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Speckled longfin eel is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Speckled longfin eel has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 15 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Speckled longfin eel ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.