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Smallfin spaghetti eel (Moringua microchir) — Moringuidae

Smallfin spaghetti eel

Moringua microchir
Family: Moringuidae

The Smallfin spaghetti eel (Moringua microchir) is a brackish-water fish of the family Moringuidae that grows up to 47 cm.

Length
47 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–20.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Smallfin spaghetti eel is a spaghetti eel (Moringuidae) from shallow sandy and coastal water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has an extremely slender, worm-like, pink to brown body with strongly reduced fins and small eyes. As a burrowing bottom-dweller it lives buried deep in sand and mud, sometimes with only the head visible, and snaps at small invertebrates and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Smallfin spaghetti eel?

The Smallfin spaghetti eel has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Smallfin spaghetti eel live?

The Smallfin spaghetti eel lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Smallfin spaghetti eel get?

The Smallfin spaghetti eel grows to a maximum of about 47 cm.

Is the Smallfin spaghetti eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Smallfin spaghetti eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kleinvin-spaghettipaling sourced
English name
Smallfin spaghetti eel sourced
Scientific name
Moringua microchir
Family
Moringuidae
Other names
Lesser thrush eel; Lesser thrush-eel; Spaghetti eel; Spahetti eel verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
47.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Moringua

More from the family Moringuidae

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