Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Synbranchiformes
(Spiny eels) > Synbranchidae
Etymology: Synbranchus: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, brangchia = gill (Ref. 45335). More on author: Bloch.
Environment / Climate / Range
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Subtropical; 22°C - 34°C (Ref. 36880)
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 79717); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35237)
Morphology | Morphometrics
Body cylindrical and long; eyes small; dorsal and anal fins vestigial (Ref. 26543).
Central and South America: Mexico to northern Argentina.
Anguilliform, has no pectoral and ventral fins; its dorsal and anal fins are vestigial (Ref. 27188). Adults inhabit streams, ponds, canals, drains, rice fields, both clear and turbid water (Ref. 11225). Nocturnal (Ref. 11225). Carnivore (Ref. 26543). The male guards and builds nest or burrow (Ref. 205). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Its being a facultative air-breather (Ref. 1468) explains, at least in part, why it is often missing from faunal inventories. At the start of the dry season when there's a decline in water level, it digs a tubular burrow in a bank or on the bottom. This burrow, which is for the most part sub-horizontal , can have several diverticula, followed by a vertical section which leads to the exterior by only one opening. Although breathing is slowed down, the fish remains active and flees if it is disturbed (Ref. 27188).
Kullander, S.O., 2003. Family Synbranchidae (Swamp-eels). p. 594-595. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Threat to humans
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
CollaboratorsPicturesStamps, CoinsSoundsCiguateraSpeedSwim. typeGill areaOtolithsBrainsVision
Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805
= 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00112 (0.00059 - 0.00212), b=3.06 (2.88 - 3.24), based on LWR estimates for species & Subfamily-BS (Ref. 93245
Trophic Level (Ref. 69278
): 2.8 ±0.51 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 69278
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153
): High to very high vulnerability (74 of 100) .