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Celebes longfin eel (Anguilla celebesensis) — Anguillidae

Celebes longfin eel

Anguilla celebesensis
Family: Anguillidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Celebes longfin eel (Anguilla celebesensis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Anguillidae that grows up to 150 cm.

Length
150 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indonesia and the Philippines; rivers and streams.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Celebes longfin eel is a freshwater eel (Anguillidae) from Indonesia and the Philippines. The species has an elongate, snake-like body in which the dorsal fin starts well before the anal fin ('longfin'). It inhabits rivers and streams and is catadromous: adults migrate to the sea to reproduce, after which the transparent larvae (glass eels) return with the current. As a predator it hunts fishes, crustaceans and molluscs at night. It is fished locally. Owing to a lack of data the species is regarded as data deficient. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Celebes longfin eel?

The Celebes longfin eel has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Catadromous longfin eel of Celebes; migrates to the sea to reproduce.

Where does the Celebes longfin eel live?

The Celebes longfin eel lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indonesia and the Philippines; rivers and streams.

How big does the Celebes longfin eel get?

The Celebes longfin eel grows to a maximum of about 150 cm.

Is the Celebes longfin eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Celebes longfin eel is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Celebes longfin eel edible?

Yes, the Celebes longfin eel is commonly eaten.

More photos

Celebes longfin eel (Anguilla celebesensis) — Anguillidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Ariyo Prasetyo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Celebes longfin eel verified
Scientific name
Anguilla celebesensis
Family
Anguillidae
Other names
Celebes longfin eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
150.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Indonesia and the Philippines; rivers and streams. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Fishes, crustaceans and molluscs sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Catadromous longfin eel of Celebes; migrates to the sea to reproduce. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Anguilla

More from the family Anguillidae

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