Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 250 - 305; Anal soft rays: 220 - 250; Vertebrae: 106 - 112. Body elongate, head conical, flattened dorsally. Mouth terminal, lips prominent, narrow bands of teeth on jaws, broad band on vomer.

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Anguilliformes

Family: Anguillidae

Genus: Anguilla

Species: Anguilla bengalensis (Gray, 1831)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Lives in freshwaters, but also occurs in estuaries and in the sea during early life and near maturity (Ref. 4832). Occurs in freshwater streams, pools and reservoirs and commonly found in mud substrates of tanks and in deep rock pools of rivers (Ref. 41236). Most common eel in Indian inland waters. There exists a good export market for both live elvers and eels. Highly prized as food fish because of its nutritional value. Fish mucous from live fish mixed with rice or wheat flour is used as medicine for arthritis (Ref. 44150).

Habitat

freshwater