Black Fin Eel

Olive to dark bluish-brown dorsally, lighter ventrally from jaw to anus (Ref. 3971). Dorsal body color uniform (Ref. 79840). Dorsal fin origin above vent (Ref. 12693). Teeth small, inconspicuous, multiserial, forming broad continuous bands on jaws and vomer; vomerine tooth-band extending as far back as bands of upper jaw but more pointed posteriorly (Ref. 4832).

Catadromous. Migrating from freshwater to the sea to spawn, e.g., European eels. Subdivision of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 240 - 245; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 200 - 220; Vertebrae: 105 - 115

Migratory species which breeds in the ocean (Ref. 52331, 79840). Lives in fresh water areas as an adult, in estuaries and seas as young (Ref. 12693). Descends to the sea to spawn. Inhabits freshwater streams and pools, preferring marshy habitats (Ref. 41236). Found in rivers and creeks, commonly over rock bottoms and in deeper pools. Seldom occurs in large rivers (Ref. 6028). Restricted to lowland (coastal) reaches of river systems (Ref. 7248). Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans and mollusks. Reported to breed east of Madagascar; the south equatorial current probably carries the eel larvae and elvers towards the east coast of Africa where local coastal currents guide the elvers to suitable rivers which they invade and they stay there until sexually mature, when they return to their breeding grounds (Ref. 13337). Caught with various types of nets. Sometimes used in the aquarium trade (Ref. 6028).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: unknown; price reliability:

分布於印度-西太平洋區。台灣分布於花東地區。

罕見魚種

體延長而呈蛇狀，尾部側扁。頭部較寬而扁，吻部鈍而寬圓。口大而開於吻端，微斜裂而達眼後緣下方；下頜略突出於上頜。背鰭和臀鰭都是低平而一直延伸到尾部，和尾鰭連結成一體而不易區分彼此；背鰭起點在肛門稍前方之上，和臀鰭之起點極為接近，幾乎近對稱之位置，二者之距離約為全長之0.2～0.8％；背鰭起點至肛門距離約為體長之7%。脊椎骨數為106-115。體背部呈紅褐色，腹部淡白色，全身均無斑點或污斑。

屬降河性洄游魚類，主要棲息於沿海溪流，常隱居於水底石頭下方或深水塘中。為肉食性魚類，主要以小魚、甲殼類及貝類為食。在台灣並不常見，生態習性尚待調查。

Anguilla bicolor is a species of eel in the genus Anguilla of the family Anguillidae, consisting of two subspecies.