| Family: |
Synbranchidae (Swamp-eels) |
| Max. size: |
53.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish |
| Distribution: |
Africa: coastal river at Mansoa Point, Guinea Bissau (Ref. 57291, 116049). Also recorded from Niger delta, Nigeria (Ref. 57291). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Diagnosis: body naked, elongated, cylindrical in front and strongly compressed back; caudal part of body making less than one third of the total length and ending in a blunt point; no paired fins; dorsal and anal fins reduced to a skin fold, rayless, meeting the caudal fin; eyes small, overlaid with skin, situated at the head forward; mouth large with well developed lips; conical teeth to the jaws and the palate; gill opening reduced to a medio-ventral transversal slit; branchiostegal membrane free from isthmus; 4 branchial arches with well developed branchiae; lateral line present; vertebral count: 80 abdominal and 50 caudal (Ref. 57291).
Colouration: adults are dark-coloured, nearly black, juveniles are clearer (Ref. 57291). |
| Biology: |
The male guards and builds nest or burrow (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 12 September 2019 (B2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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