Mastacembelus
Mastacembelus moorii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Synbranchiformes
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Mastacembelus
Scopoli, 1777
Type species
Ophidium mastacembelus
J. Banks & Solander, 1794[1]
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Caecomastacembelus[2]
  • Aethiomastacembelus[2]
  • Afromastacembelus[3]

Mastacembelus is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species).[4] Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids[5]), but there are also species in other freshwater habitats and a particularly rich radiation is found in the Lake Tanganyika basin with 15 species (14 endemic).[6][7] A few species can even occur in brackish water.[8]

Appearance

Several Mastacembelus armatus caught in the Tlawng river in India. This species is sometimes kept in aquariums, but also considered a good food fish and eaten in its native range[8]

The size and pattern varies greatly depending on the exact species of Mastacembelus. The smallest are M. latens and M. simba, which only reach a maximum total length of 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in).[4][5] At up to 1 m (3.3 ft), the largest of both the family and this genus is M. erythrotaenia.[4][9] M. erythrotaenia, often known as the fire eel, is blackish with an orange-red pattern, and it is a popular aquarium fish.[9] Otherwise species in this genus are typically brownish and often have a spotted, speckled or mottled pattern, either in another brown hue, grayish or yellowish. This pattern is reflected in the common name of another species sometimes kept in aquariums, the zig-zag eel M. armatus (alternatively called the tire track eel, a name otherwise used for M. favus). A few others also occasionally appear in the aquarium trade,[9] and some are considered good food fish and eaten locally.[8] M aviceps, M. brichardi, M. crassus and M. latens are found in dark, deep parts of the Congo River and sometimes shallower among rocks. These four species have reduced eyes and are all pinkish-white in color (non-pigmented), similar to cavefish.[5]

Taxonomy

In an evaluation of the Mastacembelidae in 2005, the genera Caecomastacembelus and Aethiomastacembelus (formerly used for the African species) were placed in synonymy with Mastacembelus.[2]

Species

Mastacembelus armatus is a widespread Asian species found in both fresh and brackish water, but as currently defined it is likely a species complex[8]
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia is a relatively large, brightly marked Asian species that is highly prized in the aquarium trade[10]
Mastacembelus ellipsifer, one of the many species found only in Lake Tanganyika[6][7]
Mastacembelus flavidus, another species found only in Lake Tanganyika[6][7]

According to FishBase, there are currently 61 recognized species in this genus.[4] 4 additional species (marked with a star* in the list) are recognized by Catalog of Fishes.[11]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mastacembelus.
  1. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Mastacembelus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Vreven, E. J. (2005). "Mastacembelidae (Teleostei; Synbranchiformes) subfamily division and African generic division: an evaluation". Journal of Natural History. 39 (4): 351–370. doi:10.1080/0022293042000195975. S2CID 85280659.
  3. ↑ "Afromastacembelus". research.calacademy.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2018). Species of Mastacembelus in FishBase. April 2018 version.
  5. 1 2 3 Elizabeth Alter, S.; Brown, B.; Stiassny, M.L.J. (2015). "Molecular phylogenetics reveals convergent evolution in lower Congo River spiny eels". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 15 (1): 224. doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0507-x. PMC 4608218. PMID 26472465.
  6. 1 2 3 Brown; Rüber; Bills; Day (2010). "Mastacembelid eels support Lake Tanganyika as an evolutionary hotspot of diversification". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 10: 188. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-10-188. PMC 2903574. PMID 20565906.
  7. 1 2 3 Brown; Britz; Bills; Rüber; Day (2011). "Pectoral fin loss in the Mastacembelidae: a new species from Lake Tanganyika". Journal of Zoology. 284 (4): 286–293. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00804.x.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Fernado, M.; Kotagama, O. & de Alwis Goonatilake, S. (2019). "Mastacembelus armatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T166586A60592409. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T166586A60592409.en. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 "Mastacembelus erythrotaenia (Fire Eel)". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Schliewen, U. (1992). Aquarium Fish. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0812013504.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Eschmeyer, W.N.; R. Fricke; R. van der Laan (14 May 2018). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
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