Family SYNBRANCHIDAE

Synbranchidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

Members of the Synbranchidae, swamp eels, are known from tropical fresh waters and estuaries of Asia, the Americas, West Africa and the tropical Western Pacific. Currently, four genera and 22 species are recognised worldwide (Eschmeyer 2011). Nelson (2006) summarised information on the family. Four species in two genera are known from Australia.

Blind cave-dwelling synbranchids are found in Australia, Africa and Mexico. They are rare in Australia although further studies may yield additional species. All are capable of breathing air, but only one species has lung-like air sacs. Most species are small, but some reach a length of 1 m.

Rosen & Greenwood (1976) reviewed the family. Australian species are treated in Allen et al. (2002).

General References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Eschmeyer, W.N. 2011. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 29 March 2011. http://research.calacademy.org/redirect?url=http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Rosen, D.E. & Greenwood, P.H. 1976. A fourth neotropical species of synbranchid eel and the phylogeny and systematics of synbranchiform fishes. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 157(1): 5-69 figs 1-67

Common Name References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. [172] (Swamp Eels)

Whitley, G.P. 1948. A list of the fishes of Western Australia. Western Australia Fish Department. Fisheries Bulletin 2: 1-35 map [12] (One-gilled Eel)

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