Rice-paddy eel
📖 Overview
Found in lagoons and estuaries, entering freshwater and paddy fields . Common in tidal reaches and nearby upstream areas of coastal rivers . Lives in holes in the river bottom and bank and actively forages for small fishes at night . Reported to spawn in rice-paddies during the rainy season . Caught in bag nets and similar gear. Marketed fresh.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Vertebrae: 171 - 180. Diagnosis: Body snake-like, cylindrical, compressed only along extreme tail tip; anterior nostril tubular, posterior along lower edge of lip; teeth granular to molariform, multiserial bands on jaws and vomer, but sharper on jaws and more pointed in young individuals; median fins not continuous posteriorly; extreme tip of tail stiff and finless; dorsal fin origin about a pectoral fin length behind tips of pectoral fins; lateral line inconspicuous .: eel-like.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Rice-paddy eel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous ; depth range 0 - 10 m . Tropical West Pacific: Somalia (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla acuminata | Swainson | 1839 | Synonym |
| Anguilla immaculata | Swainson | 1839 | Synonym |
| Conger microstoma | Eydoux & Souleyet | 1850 | Synonym |
| Ophichthys boro | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Ophisurus boro | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Ophisurus caudatus | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Ophisurus harancha | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Ophisurus minimus | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Ophisurus potamophilus | Bleeker | 1854 | Synonym |
| Ophisurus rostratus | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Ophisurus vermiformis | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Pisodonophis assamensis | Sen | 1986 | Synonym |
| Pisodontophis bora | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Pisoodonophis boro | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 6 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Rice-paddy eel ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data?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.