''Macrognathus zebrinus'', the zebra spiny eel,
is a species of
spiny eel endemic to
Myanmar
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
, specifically known from the
Irrawaddy River
The Irrawaddy River ( Ayeyarwady River; , , from Indic ''revatī'', meaning "abounding in riches") is a river that flows from north to south through Myanmar (Burma). It is the country's largest river and most important commercial waterway. Origi ...
,
Sittaung River and
Salween River and may also occur in
Indonesia. It was originally described as ''Mastacembelus zebrinus'' before being moved to the genus ''Macrognathus'' in 1984 and 1986.
It is pale brown with deeper color in the back and dusky stripes throughout the body (this is more distinct with the young) and has scales on its snout. In 1888, pioneer ichthyologist
Francis Day
Francis Talbot Day (2 March 1829 – 10 July 1889) was an army surgeon and naturalist in the Madras Presidency who later became the Inspector-General of Fisheries in India and Burma. A pioneer ichthyologist, he described more than three hund ...
once noted that he thought ''
Macrognathus pancalus
''Macrognathus pancalus'', the barred spiny eel or Indian spiny eel, or পাঁকাল in bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic ...
'' (although smaller) and ''M. zebrinus'' were one species; he also described it as yellow with vertical blue stripes with striped and spotted fins.
It has also been introduced to
Singapore and is now an established species, known from four reservoirs
Kranji,
Lower Peirce
Lower may refer to:
*Lower (surname)
*Lower Township, New Jersey
*Lower Receiver (firearms)
*Lower Wick Gloucestershire, England
See also
*Nizhny
Nizhny (russian: Ни́жний; masculine), Nizhnyaya (; feminine), or Nizhneye (russian: Ни́ ...
,
Lower Seletar and
Tengeh.
It is active at twilight and night and is predatory, feeding on
mosquito larvae, earthworms, ''
Tubifex'', small
crustaceans and other fishes.
It is fished as part of mixed catch and is also collected as an ornamental fish. Although it is not well known, it is listed as Least Concern and protection and research is needed.
References
External links
FishBase profile
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5839788
zebrinus
Fish described in 1858
Taxa named by Edward Blyth