New Zealand Longfin Eel
Anguilla dieffenbachii
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Epic
- Observations
- 1,242
- Most observed in
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Conservation
- Endangered
Description
The New Zealand longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) is a species of freshwater eel that is endemic to New Zealand. It is the largest freshwater eel in New Zealand and the only endemic species – the other eels found in New Zealand are the native shortfin eel (Anguilla australis), also found in Australia, and the naturally introduced Australian longfin eel (Anguilla reinhardtii). Longfin eels are long-lived, migrating to the Pacific Ocean near Tonga to breed at the end of their lives. They are good climbers as juveniles and so are found in streams and lakes a long way inland. An important traditional food source for Māori (who name them ōrea), longfin eel numbers are declining and they are classified as endangered, but over one hundred tonnes are still commercially fished each year.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “New Zealand longfin eel”.