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Fish Identification: Find Species


Family: Mastacembelidae Spiny eels



(See list of species below)


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86 species (see list below)

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Photo by Roberts, T.R.

Asia
Max. Length 38 cm TL
Macrognathus aculeatus (Bloch, 1786)

Photo by Roberts, T.R.
 
Macrognathus aculeatus
[Lesser spiny eel]

Photo by Plamoottil, M.

Asia
Max. Length 21.2 cm SL
Macrognathus albus Plamoottil & Abraham, 2014

Photo by Plamoottil, M.
 
Macrognathus albus
[Spotless spiny eel]

Photo by Vidthayanon, C.

Asia
Max. Length 63.5 cm TL
Macrognathus aral (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Photo by Vidthayanon, C.
 
Macrognathus aral
[One-stripe spinyeel]

Photo by Win, T.

Asia
Max. Length 21.6 cm SL
Macrognathus aureus Britz, 2010

Photo by Win, T.
 
Macrognathus aureus
[]

Photo by Vidthayanon, C.

Asia
Max. Length 25 cm NG
Macrognathus caudiocellatus (Boulenger, 1893)

Photo by Vidthayanon, C.
 
Macrognathus caudiocellatus
[]

Photo by JJPhoto

Asia
Max. Length 20 cm SL
Macrognathus circumcinctus (Hora, 1924)

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Macrognathus circumcinctus
[]

Photo by NRM Ichthyology Collection Database

Asia
Max. Length 25 cm SL
Macrognathus dorsiocellatus Britz, 2010

Photo by NRM Ichthyology Collection Database
 
Macrognathus dorsiocellatus
[]

Photo by Plamoottil, M.

Asia
Max. Length 30.7 cm SL
Macrognathus fasciatus Plamoottil & Abraham, 2014

Photo by Plamoottil, M.
 
Macrognathus fasciatus
[Yellow banded spiny eel]

Photo by Vincent, M.

Asia
Max. Length 29.9 cm SL
Macrognathus guentheri (Day, 1865)

Photo by Vincent, M.
 
Macrognathus guentheri
[Malabar spinyeel]

Photo by Martin-Smith, K.

Asia
Max. Length 22.2 cm SL
Macrognathus keithi (Herre, 1940)

Photo by Martin-Smith, K.
 
Macrognathus keithi
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 18.4 cm SL
 
Macrognathus lineatomaculatus
[]

Photo by Roberts, T.R.

Asia
Max. Length 28 cm TL
Macrognathus maculatus (Cuvier, 1832)

Photo by Roberts, T.R.
 
Macrognathus maculatus
[Frecklefin eel]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 26 cm TL
 
Macrognathus malabaricus
[]

Photo by Panitvong, N.

Asia
Max. Length 17.8 cm
Macrognathus meklongensis Roberts, 1986

Photo by Panitvong, N.
 
Macrognathus meklongensis
[]
No picture found
Asia
 
Macrognathus morehensis
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 13.5 cm SL
 
Macrognathus obscurus
[]

Photo by Khan, M.M.

Asia
Max. Length 18 cm TL
Macrognathus pancalus Hamilton, 1822

Photo by Khan, M.M.
 
Macrognathus pancalus
[Barred spiny eel]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 15.8 cm SL
 
Macrognathus pavo
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 19.5 cm SL
 
Macrognathus pentophthalmos
[]

Photo by Panitvong, N.

Asia
Max. Length 19.2 cm SL
Macrognathus semiocellatus Roberts, 1986

Photo by Panitvong, N.
 
Macrognathus semiocellatus
[]

Photo by Baird, I.G.

Asia
Max. Length 30 cm SL
Macrognathus siamensis (Günther, 1861)

Photo by Baird, I.G.
 
Macrognathus siamensis
[Peacock eel]

Photo by Baird, I.G.

Asia
Max. Length 16 cm SL
Macrognathus taeniagaster (Fowler, 1935)

Photo by Baird, I.G.
 
Macrognathus taeniagaster
[]

Photo by Vidthayanon, C.

Asia.
Max. Length 17.9 cm SL
Macrognathus tapirus Kottelat & Widjanarti, 2005

Photo by Vidthayanon, C.
 
Macrognathus tapirus
[]

Photo by JJPhoto

Asia
Max. Length 46 cm TL
Macrognathus zebrinus (Blyth, 1858)

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Macrognathus zebrinus
[Zebra spiny eel]

Photo by JJPhoto

Asia
Max. Length 49 cm TL
Mastacembelus alboguttatus Boulenger, 1893

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Mastacembelus alboguttatus
[]

Photo by JJPhoto

Africa
Max. Length 22 cm TL
Mastacembelus albomaculatus Poll, 1953

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Mastacembelus albomaculatus
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 44.5 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus ansorgii
[]
No picture found
Africa
 
Mastacembelus apectoralis
[]

Photo by Vikram, B.

Asia
Max. Length 90 cm
Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepède, 1800)

Photo by Vikram, B.
 
Mastacembelus armatus
[Zig-zag eel]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 17.5 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus aviceps
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 16.4 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus brachyrhinus
[]

Photo by RMCA

Africa
Max. Length 17 cm SL
Mastacembelus brichardi (Poll, 1958)

Photo by RMCA
 
Mastacembelus brichardi
[Blind spiny eel]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 29.5 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus catchpolei
[]

Photo by Mertens, P.

Africa
Max. Length 43.5 cm SL
Mastacembelus congicus Boulenger, 1896

Photo by Mertens, P.
 
Mastacembelus congicus
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 15.7 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus crassus
[]

Photo by JJPhoto

Africa
Max. Length 34.5 cm SL
Mastacembelus cryptacanthus Günther, 1867

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Mastacembelus cryptacanthus
[]

Photo by Moeremans, L.

Africa
Max. Length 58 cm TL
Mastacembelus cunningtoni Boulenger, 1906

Photo by Moeremans, L.
 
Mastacembelus cunningtoni
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 30.6 cm
 
Mastacembelus dayi
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 24.6 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus decorsei
[]
No picture found
Asia
 
Mastacembelus dienbienensis
[]

Photo by JJPhoto

Africa
Max. Length 45 cm TL
Mastacembelus ellipsifer Boulenger, 1899

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Mastacembelus ellipsifer
[]

Photo by JJPhoto

Asia
Max. Length 100 cm TL
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia Bleeker, 1850

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
[Fire eel]

Photo by Warren, T.

Asia
Max. Length 70 cm SL
Mastacembelus favus Hora, 1924

Photo by Warren, T.
 
Mastacembelus favus
[Tire track eel]

Photo by FAO

Africa
Max. Length 27 cm TL
Mastacembelus flavidus Matthes, 1962

Photo by FAO
 
Mastacembelus flavidus
[]

Photo by Seegers, L.

Africa
Max. Length 40 cm SL
Mastacembelus frenatus Boulenger, 1901

Photo by Seegers, L.
 
Mastacembelus frenatus
[Longtail spiny eel]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 33.3 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus greshoffi
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 23.9 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus kakrimensis
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 7.2 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus latens
[]

Photo by Palmer, R.

Africa
Max. Length 36.8 cm SL
Mastacembelus liberiensis Boulenger, 1898

Photo by Palmer, R.
 
Mastacembelus liberiensis
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 26.1 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus loennbergii
[]

Photo by RMCA

Africa
Max. Length 27 cm SL
Mastacembelus marchei Sauvage, 1879

Photo by RMCA
 
Mastacembelus marchei
[]

Photo by Afzali, A.

Asia
Max. Length 34.5 cm TL
Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Banks & Solander, 1794)

Photo by Afzali, A.
 
Mastacembelus mastacembelus
[Euphrates spiny eel]

Photo by FAO

Africa
Max. Length 17.6 cm SL
Mastacembelus micropectus Matthes, 1962

Photo by FAO
 
Mastacembelus micropectus
[]

Photo by Hippocampus-Bildarchiv

Africa
Max. Length 44 cm TL
Mastacembelus moorii Boulenger, 1898

Photo by Hippocampus-Bildarchiv
 
Mastacembelus moorii
[]

Photo by Hopkins, C.D.

Africa
Max. Length 37.5 cm SL
Mastacembelus niger Sauvage, 1879

Photo by Hopkins, C.D.
 
Mastacembelus niger
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 42.2 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus nigromarginatus
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 39 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus notophthalmus
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 37 cm
 
Mastacembelus oatesii
[]

Photo by FAO

Africa
Max. Length 33 cm TL
Mastacembelus ophidium Günther, 1894

Photo by FAO
 
Mastacembelus ophidium
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 33.4 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus pantherinus
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 38.7 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus paucispinis
[]

Photo by JJPhoto

Africa
Max. Length 30 cm SL
Mastacembelus plagiostomus Matthes, 1962

Photo by JJPhoto
 
Mastacembelus plagiostomus
[]

Photo by FAO

Africa
Max. Length 16 cm SL
Mastacembelus platysoma Poll & Matthes, 1962

Photo by FAO
 
Mastacembelus platysoma
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 14 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus polli
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 35.3 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus praensis
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 25.4 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus reygeli
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 33.8 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus robertsi
[]

Photo by RMCA

Africa
Max. Length 17.8 cm SL
Mastacembelus sanagali Thys van den Audenaerde, 1972

Photo by RMCA
 
Mastacembelus sanagali
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 22.5 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus seiteri
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 25.9 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus sexdecimspinus
[]

Photo by Reygel, A.

Africa
Max. Length 14.4 cm SL
Mastacembelus shiloangoensis (Vreven, 2004)

Photo by Reygel, A.
 
Mastacembelus shiloangoensis
[]

Photo by FAO

Africa
Max. Length 26 cm TL
Mastacembelus shiranus Günther, 1896

Photo by FAO
 
Mastacembelus shiranus
[Malawi spinyeel]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 7.8 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus simbi
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 29.7 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus strigiventus
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 29 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus taiaensis
[]

Photo by FAO

Africa
Max. Length 19 cm SL
Mastacembelus tanganicae Günther, 1894

Photo by FAO
 
Mastacembelus tanganicae
[]
No picture found
Asia
 
Mastacembelus thacbaensis
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 37.7 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus tinwini
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 35.7 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus traversi
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 40.9 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus triolobus
[]
No picture found
Africa
Max. Length 33.5 cm TL
 
Mastacembelus trispinosus
[]
No picture found
Asia
Max. Length 31.3 cm SL
 
Mastacembelus undulatus
[]

Photo by Roberts, T.R.

Asia
Max. Length 55 cm TL
Mastacembelus unicolor Cuvier, 1832

Photo by Roberts, T.R.
 
Mastacembelus unicolor
[]

Photo by Gratwicke, B.

Africa
Max. Length 15.1 cm TL
Mastacembelus vanderwaali Skelton, 1976

Photo by Gratwicke, B.
 
Mastacembelus vanderwaali
[Ocellated spiny eel]

Photo by FAO

Africa
Max. Length 19 cm SL
Mastacembelus zebratus Matthes, 1962

Photo by FAO
 
Mastacembelus zebratus
[]
No picture found
Asia
 
Sinobdella sinensis
[]
86 Species of Family Mastacembelidae
(Spiny eels)
Sort by: Species Length Year
1 of 1 Jump to:
Year Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm)
1786 Macrognathus aculeatus Lesser spiny eel Asia 38 TL
2014 Macrognathus albus Spotless spiny eel Asia 21.2 SL
1801 Macrognathus aral One-stripe spinyeel Asia 63.5 TL
2010 Macrognathus aureus Asia 21.6 SL
1893 Macrognathus caudiocellatus Asia 25 NG
1924 Macrognathus circumcinctus Asia 20 SL
2010 Macrognathus dorsiocellatus Asia 25 SL
2014 Macrognathus fasciatus Yellow banded spiny eel Asia 30.7 SL
1865 Macrognathus guentheri Malabar spinyeel Asia 29.9 SL
1940 Macrognathus keithi Asia 22.2 SL
2010 Macrognathus lineatomaculatus Asia 18.4 SL
1832 Macrognathus maculatus Frecklefin eel Asia 28 TL
1849 Macrognathus malabaricus Asia 26 TL
1986 Macrognathus meklongensis Asia 17.8
2000 Macrognathus morehensis Asia
2010 Macrognathus obscurus Asia 13.5 SL
1822 Macrognathus pancalus Barred spiny eel Asia 18 TL
2010 Macrognathus pavo Asia 15.8 SL
1854 Macrognathus pentophthalmos Asia 19.5 SL
1986 Macrognathus semiocellatus Asia 19.2 SL
1861 Macrognathus siamensis Peacock eel Asia 30 SL
1935 Macrognathus taeniagaster Asia 16 SL
2005 Macrognathus tapirus Asia. 17.9 SL
1858 Macrognathus zebrinus Zebra spiny eel Asia 46 TL
1893 Mastacembelus alboguttatus Asia 49 TL
1953 Mastacembelus albomaculatus Africa 22 TL
1905 Mastacembelus ansorgii Africa 44.5 TL
2011 Mastacembelus apectoralis Africa
1800 Mastacembelus armatus Zig-zag eel Asia 90
1976 Mastacembelus aviceps Africa 17.5 TL
1899 Mastacembelus brachyrhinus Africa 16.4 SL
1958 Mastacembelus brichardi Blind spiny eel Africa 17 SL
1936 Mastacembelus catchpolei Africa 29.5 TL
1896 Mastacembelus congicus Africa 43.5 SL
1976 Mastacembelus crassus Africa 15.7 TL
1867 Mastacembelus cryptacanthus Africa 34.5 SL
1906 Mastacembelus cunningtoni Africa 58 TL
1912 Mastacembelus dayi Asia 30.6
1919 Mastacembelus decorsei Africa 24.6 TL
2005 Mastacembelus dienbienensis Asia
1899 Mastacembelus ellipsifer Africa 45 TL
1850 Mastacembelus erythrotaenia Fire eel Asia 100 TL
1924 Mastacembelus favus Tire track eel Asia 70 SL
1962 Mastacembelus flavidus Africa 27 TL
1901 Mastacembelus frenatus Longtail spiny eel Africa 40 SL
1901 Mastacembelus greshoffi Africa 33.3 SL
2005 Mastacembelus kakrimensis Africa 23.9 SL
1976 Mastacembelus latens Africa 7.2 TL
1898 Mastacembelus liberiensis Africa 36.8 SL
1898 Mastacembelus loennbergii Africa 26.1 TL
1879 Mastacembelus marchei Africa 27 SL
1794 Mastacembelus mastacembelus Euphrates spiny eel Asia 34.5 TL
1962 Mastacembelus micropectus Africa 17.6 SL
1898 Mastacembelus moorii Africa 44 TL
1879 Mastacembelus niger Africa 37.5 SL
1898 Mastacembelus nigromarginatus Africa 42.2 SL
1989 Mastacembelus notophthalmus Asia 39 SL
1893 Mastacembelus oatesii Asia 37
1894 Mastacembelus ophidium Africa 33 TL
2007 Mastacembelus pantherinus Asia 33.4 SL
1899 Mastacembelus paucispinis Africa 38.7 SL
1962 Mastacembelus plagiostomus Africa 30 SL
1962 Mastacembelus platysoma Africa 16 SL
2005 Mastacembelus polli Africa 14 SL
1992 Mastacembelus praensis Africa 35.3 SL
2009 Mastacembelus reygeli Africa 25.4 SL
1996 Mastacembelus robertsi Africa 33.8 SL
1972 Mastacembelus sanagali Africa 17.8 SL
1972 Mastacembelus seiteri Africa 22.5 TL
1986 Mastacembelus sexdecimspinus Africa 25.9 SL
2004 Mastacembelus shiloangoensis Africa 14.4 SL
1896 Mastacembelus shiranus Malawi spinyeel Africa 26 TL
2009 Mastacembelus simbi Africa 7.8 SL
2011 Mastacembelus strigiventus Asia 29.7 TL
1992 Mastacembelus taiaensis Africa 29 SL
1894 Mastacembelus tanganicae Africa 19 SL
2005 Mastacembelus thacbaensis Asia
2007 Mastacembelus tinwini Asia 37.7 SL
1997 Mastacembelus traversi Africa 35.7 SL
2011 Mastacembelus triolobus Asia 40.9 TL
1911 Mastacembelus trispinosus Africa 33.5 TL
1844 Mastacembelus undulatus Asia 31.3 SL
1832 Mastacembelus unicolor Asia 55 TL
1976 Mastacembelus vanderwaali Ocellated spiny eel Africa 15.1 TL
1962 Mastacembelus zebratus Africa 19 SL
1870 Sinobdella sinensis Asia



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cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013