Guinea swamp eel

📖 Overview

Guinea swamp eel (Ophisternon afrum), first described by Boulenger, 1909 is a large fish in the family Synbranchidae (order Synbranchiformes). Adults typically reach 53.50 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Tropical waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Endangered.The species is a species of conservation concern.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. Diagnosis: body naked, elongated, cylindrical in front and strongly compressed back; caudal part of body making less than one third of the total length and ending in a blunt point; no paired fins; dorsal and anal fins reduced to a skin fold, rayless, meeting the caudal fin; eyes small, overlaid with skin, situated at the head forward; mouth large with well developed lips; conical teeth to the jaws and the palate; gill opening reduced to a medio-ventral transversal slit; branchiostegal membrane free from isthmus; 4 branchial arches with well developed branchiae; lateral line present; vertebral count: 80 abdominal and 50 caudal . Colouration: adults are dark-coloured, nearly black, juveniles are clearer .: eel-like.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Guinea swamp eel is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; demersal. Tropical; 17°N - 3°N recorded from Niger delta, Nigeria (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

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