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Bigfin spaghetti eel (Moringua macrochir) — Moringuidae

Bigfin spaghetti eel

Moringua macrochir
Family: Moringuidae

The Bigfin spaghetti eel (Moringua macrochir) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Moringuidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–15.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Bigfin spaghetti eel is a spaghetti eel (Moringuidae) from shallow sandy and coastal water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has an extremely slender, worm-like, pink to brown body with strongly reduced fins and small eyes. As a burrowing bottom-dweller it lives buried deep in sand and mud, sometimes with only the head visible, and snaps at small invertebrates and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bigfin spaghetti eel?

The Bigfin spaghetti eel has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Bigfin spaghetti eel live?

The Bigfin spaghetti eel lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bigfin spaghetti eel get?

The Bigfin spaghetti eel grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Bigfin spaghetti eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Bigfin spaghetti eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grootvin-spaghettipaling sourced
English name
Bigfin spaghetti eel sourced
Scientific name
Moringua macrochir
Family
Moringuidae
Other names
Longfin spaghetti eel sourced

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Moringua

More from the family Moringuidae

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