Taxonomy of Finfish

3.3.1.1 Anguillidae (Freshwater eels)

Small oval scales present, embedded in skin and arranged in a basket-weave pattern.

Body elongate; snake like

Dorsal fin origin aboe anus or very nearly so. 

Dorsal fin begins variously between pectoral fin and anus or over anus.

No pelvic fin

Lower jaw longer than upper, projecting; angle of mouth a little behind near margin of eye  

Pectoral fins well developed

· Anus in the anterior half of the body

· Vertical slit like gill opening

· Lateral line complete on body and head

· Vertebrae 100 – 119

· Catadromy, migrate from freshwater to marine during spawning

· Leptocephali metamorphosis into elvers

Eg. 1. Anguilla bicolar bicolar

      2. Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis

Similar Families

Congridae - No scales; lower jaw equal to, or shorter than upper; dorsal fin being above or before pectoral lips.

Muraenesocidae - No scales; mouth very large extending to beyond eye; large gill opening.

Ophichthidae - No scales; in most genera no caudal fin but tail tip a hard, burrowing point; a median supraorbital pore present.

Muraenidae - No scales, no pectoral fin; gill opening a small hole.

Xenocongridae - Gill opening a small hole; reduced lateral line system/pectoral fins present or absent.