Fin's Fish Guide
The Madeira swamp eel (Synbranchus madeirae) is a freshwater fish of the family Synbranchidae that grows up to 100 cm.
Description
The Madeira swamp eel is a swamp eel (Synbranchidae) from slow-flowing and still fresh water of the Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a snake-like, scaleless, brown body without pectoral and pelvic fins and with strongly reduced gill openings fused into a single slit under the throat. In oxygen-poor water it can gulp air and survive in moist mud during drought. As a nocturnal hunter it snaps at small fish, crustaceans and insect larvae. The fish is harmless to humans.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Madeira swamp eel?
The Madeira swamp eel has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.
Where does the Madeira swamp eel live?
The Madeira swamp eel lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Peru
How big does the Madeira swamp eel get?
The Madeira swamp eel grows to a maximum of about 100 cm.
Is the Madeira swamp eel dangerous to humans?
No, the Madeira swamp eel is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Synbranchus
More from the family Synbranchidae
Want the complete picture on the Madeira swamp eel?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Madeira swamp eel is one of 12,519 species in the app.