Indian dwarf spiny eel

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Indian dwarf spiny eel
Indian Dwarf Eel.jpg

Indian pygmy eel ( Macrognathus pancalus )

Systematics
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Gill slit eels (Synbranchiformes)
Family : Spiny Eels (Mastacembelidae)
Genre : Macrognathus
Type : Indian dwarf spiny eel
Scientific name
Macrognathus pancalus
Hamilton , 1822

The Indian pygmy eel ( Macrognathus pancalus ) is a small freshwater and brackish water fish that occurs on the Indian subcontinent in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. It lives in muddy water bottoms in calm river sections, canals, ponds, flooded rice fields and river mouths in the plains of the subcontinent.

features

The Indian dwarf spiny eel is a maximum of 18 cm long. Males become sexually mature with a length of 10-11 cm, females with a length of 11-12 cm. The fish are elongated and flattened like an eel, the eyes are small. The sideline is complete, the scales are cycloid . 85 to 87 scales can be counted along the sideline, 18 to 19 rows of scales above the sideline, and below 20 to 22. Ventral fins are missing. The dorsal and anal fins are separated by the rounded caudal fin in most individuals. The dorsal fin begins above the center of the pectoral fin. The dorsal fin spines are short. The soft-rayed sections of the dorsal and anal fin are symmetrical to each other. The fish are predominantly greenish-olive in color, the back is dark-olive, the belly yellowish. Whitish to light gray or light yellow spots run along the flanks. A light vertical stripe runs along the sidelines. The fins are yellowish with dark spots.

Way of life

Macrognathus pancalus , illustration in the first description by Francis Hamilton, 1822

The Indian dwarf spiny eel feeds mainly on insect larvae, especially mosquito and tufted mosquito larvae , followed by caddis flies and mayfly larvae . In one study they made up 91.27% of the stomach's contents. Annular worms were represented at 4.85%, especially Tubifex and other mud tubeworms .

The breeding season is in the rainy season from May to August. The fish spawn in the near-surface water regions between floating plants. A female can be accompanied by several males during a spawning process. The eggs have a diameter of 2–2.5 mm. They are round and light brown, sink to the bottom, have no filaments, but are sticky. No more male fish are caught immediately after the spawning season, from September to December. The cause is unknown, but could be a very high mortality in males after spawning.

use

The spiny eel is caught in India and used for human consumption, and exported as aquarium fish to North America, Europe and wealthy Asian countries.

literature

  • Günther Sterba (Ed.), Gert Brückner: Encyclopedia of Aquaristics and Special Ichthyology. Neumann-Neudamm, Melsungen u. a. 1978, ISBN 3-7888-0252-9 .
  • Suresh VR, Biswas BK, Vinci GK, Mitra K., Mukherjee A. 2006. Biology and fishery of barred spiny eel, Macrognathus pancalus Hamilton. Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 36 (1): 31 ?? 37. PDF .

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