''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in

rapids Rapids are sections of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient, causing an increase in water velocity and turbulence. Rapids are hydrological features between a ''run'' (a smoothly flowing part of a stream) and a ''cascade''. ...

), but there are also species in other freshwater habitats and a particularly rich

radiation In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium. This includes: * ''electromagnetic radiation'', such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visi ...

is found in the

Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika () is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second-largest by volume, and the second-deepest, in all cases after Lake Baikal in Siberia. It is the world's longest freshwater lake. ...

basin with 15 species (14 endemic). A few species can even occur in brackish water.

Appearance

The size and pattern varies greatly depending on the exact species of ''Mastacembelus''. The smallest are '' M. latens'' and '' M. simba'', which only reach a maximum total length of . At up to , the largest of both the family and this genus is '' M. erythrotaenia''. ''M. erythrotaenia'', often known as the fire eel, is blackish with an orange-red pattern, and it is a popular

aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

fish. Otherwise species in this genus are typically brownish and often have a spotted, speckled or mottled pattern, either in another brown hue, grayish or yellowish. This pattern is reflected in the common name of another species sometimes kept in aquariums, the

zig-zag eel The zig-zag eel (''Mastacembelus armatus''), also known as the tire-track eel, tire-track spiny eel or marbled spiny eel, is a species of Fish anatomy#Spines and rays, ray-finned, Mastacembelidae, spiny eels belonging to the genus ''Mastacembelu ...

''M. armatus'' (alternatively called the tire track eel, a name otherwise used for '' M. favus''). A few others also occasionally appear in the aquarium trade, and some are considered good food fish and eaten locally. '' M aviceps'', '' M. brichardi'', '' M. crassus'' and '' M. latens'' are found in dark, deep parts of the Congo River and sometimes shallower among rocks. These four species have reduced eyes and are all pinkish-white in color (non- pigmented), similar to cavefish.

Taxonomy

In an evaluation of the Mastacembelidae in 2005, the genera ''Caecomastacembelus'' and ''Aethiomastacembelus'' (formerly used for the African species) were placed in synonymy with ''Mastacembelus''.

Species

According to

FishBase FishBase is a global species database of fish species (specifically finfish). It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web.

, there are currently 61 recognized species in this genus. 4 additional species (marked with a star* in the list) are recognized by Catalog of Fishes. * ''

Mastacembelus alboguttatus Boulenger's spiny eel (''Mastacembelus alboguttatus'') is a species of ray-finned fish endemic to India, Myanmar and Thailand, known from Sittaung River, Salween River and Manipur River and possibly Irrawaddy River The Irrawaddy River ( Ayeya ...

Boulenger Boulenger is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin Boulenger (born 1990), French footballer * Edward George Boulenger (1888–1946), British zoologist, director of aquarium at London Zoo * George Albert Boulenger (1858–1 ...

, 1893 * ''

Mastacembelus albomaculatus ''Mastacembelus albomaculatus'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic o ...

'' Poll, 1953 * ''

Mastacembelus ansorgii ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

, 1905 * ''

Mastacembelus apectoralis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' K. J. Brown, Britz, I. R. Bills,

Rüber Rüber is a municipality in the district of Mayen-Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Euro ...

& J. J. Day, 2011 * ''

Mastacembelus armatus The zig-zag eel (''Mastacembelus armatus''), also known as the tire-track eel, tire-track spiny eel or marbled spiny eel, is a species of ray-finned, spiny eels belonging to the genus '' Mastacembelus'' (Scopoli, 1777) of the family Mastacembe ...

'' (

Lacépède Lacepede can refer to: * Bernard Germain de Lacépède (1756–1825), French naturalist and politician. * Lacepede Bay, a bay in South Australia. * Lacépède, Lot-et-Garonne, a ''commune'' in France * Lacepede Islands, a group of four islands in t ...

, 1800) (Zig zag eel) * ''

Mastacembelus aviceps ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' T. R. Roberts &

D. J. Stewart Demetrius Jerome Stewart (born November 30, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles. Stewart played college baseball fo ...

, 1976 * ''

Mastacembelus batesii ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

''*

, 1911 * ''

Mastacembelus brachyrhinus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

, 1899 * '' Mastacembelus brichardi'' Poll, (1958) (Blind spiny eel) * ''

Mastacembelus catchpolei ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' Fowler, 1936 * ''

Mastacembelus congicus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

, 1896 * '' Mastacembelus crassus'' T. R. Roberts &

, 1976 * ''

Mastacembelus cryptacanthus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' Günther, 1867 * ''

Mastacembelus cunningtoni ''Mastacembelus cunningtoni'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to the Lake Tanganyika basin, including the Lakes outflow, the Lukuga River as far as the Kisimba-Kilia rapids. It occurs in Burundi, the Democratic R ...

, 1906 * ''

Mastacembelus dayi ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

, 1912 –

junior synonym The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linna ...

of ''M. alboguttatus'' according to Catalog of Fishes * ''

Mastacembelus decorsei ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' Pellegrin, 1919 * ''

Mastacembelus dienbienensis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' V. H. Nguyễn & H. D. Nguyễn, 2005 – belongs in genus ''

Sinobdella ''Sinobdella sinensis'' is an East Asian species of the spiny eel family of the order Synbranchiformes. It is the only species in the genus ''Sinobdella'' according to FishBase, but another species, '' S. dienbienensis'', is placed there by Catal ...

'' according to Catalog of Fishes * ''

Mastacembelus ellipsifer ''Mastacembelus ellipsifer'' is a species of spiny eel that is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa and sometimes kept in aquariums. Although sometimes called the Tanganyikan spiny eel, it is only one of fifteen spiny eel species in the Tangan ...

, 1899 * '' Mastacembelus erythrotaenia'' Bleeker, 1850 (Fire eel) * '' Mastacembelus favus''

Hora Hora may refer to: Companies * Hora (company), a Romanian manufacturer of stringed musical instruments People * Hora (surname) * Hora (musician), member of the Japanese duo Schwarz Stein * Hora people, an indigenous people of Bolivia Places * ...

, 1924 (Tire track eel) * ''

Mastacembelus flavidus ''Mastacembelus flavidus'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Burundi Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuh ...

'' Matthes, 1962 * ''

Mastacembelus flavomarginatus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

''*

, 1898 * ''

Mastacembelus frenatus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

, 1901 (Longtail spiny eel) * ''

Mastacembelus goro ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

''*

, 1902 * ''

Mastacembelus greshoffi ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

, 1901 * ''

Mastacembelus kakrimensis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' Vreven & Teugels, 2005 * '' Mastacembelus latens'' T. R. Roberts &

, 1976 * ''

Mastacembelus liberiensis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

, 1898 * ''

Mastacembelus loennbergii ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

, 1898 * ''

Mastacembelus malabaricus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

''* Jerdon, 1849 * ''

Mastacembelus marchei ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

Sauvage Sauvage, French for "savage" may refer to: ; as a surname: * Catherine Sauvage (1929–1998), a French singer and actress * Cyrille Sauvage (born 1973), a French racing driver * Frédéric Sauvage (1786–1857), a French boat builder who carried ...

, 1879 * '' Mastacembelus mastacembelus'' (

J. Banks ''J. The Jewish News of Northern California'', formerly known as ''Jweekly'', is a weekly print newspaper in Northern California, with its online edition updated daily. It is owned and operated by San Francisco Jewish Community Publications In ...

Solander Daniel Carlsson Solander or Daniel Charles Solander (19 February 1733 – 13 May 1782) was a Swedish naturalist and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus. Solander was the first university-educated scientist to set foot on Australian soil. Biography ...

, 1794) * ''

Mastacembelus micropectus ''Mastacembelus micropectus'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika () is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second-largest by v ...

'' Matthes, 1962 * ''

Mastacembelus moorii ''Mastacembelus moorii'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is a secretive species hiding among rocks or in the sediment in the littoral zone. It grows to a total length of . The specifi ...

, 1898 * ''

Mastacembelus niger ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

, 1879 * ''

Mastacembelus nigromarginatus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

, 1898 * ''

Mastacembelus notophthalmus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' T. R. Roberts, 1989 * ''

Mastacembelus oatesii ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

, 1893 * ''

Mastacembelus ophidium ''Mastacembelus ophidium'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika () is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second-largest by volum ...

'' Günther, 1894 * ''

Mastacembelus pantherinus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' Britz, 2007 * ''

Mastacembelus paucispinis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

, 1899 * ''

Mastacembelus plagiostomus ''Mastacembelus plagiostomus'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is found in shallow waters with rock substrates and is endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It grows to standard length Fish measurement is the measuring of individu ...

'' Matthes, 1962 * ''

Mastacembelus platysoma ''Mastacembelus platysoma'' is a species of fish, a spiny eel in the family Mastacembelidae. It is found in Lake Tanganyika which is bordered by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. The IUCN has listed it as bei ...

'' Poll & Matthes, 1962 * ''

Mastacembelus polli ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' Vreven, 2005 * ''

Mastacembelus praensis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' ( Travers, 1992) * ''

Mastacembelus reygeli ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' Vreven & Snoeks, 2009 * ''

Mastacembelus robertsi ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' ( Vreven & Teugels, 1996) * ''

Mastacembelus sanagali ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' Thys van den Audenaerde, 1972 * ''

Mastacembelus seiteri ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' Thys van den Audenaerde, 1972 * ''

Mastacembelus sexdecimspinus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' ( T. R. Roberts & Travers, 1986) * ''

Mastacembelus shiloangoensis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' ( Vreven, 2004) * ''

Mastacembelus shiranus The Malawi spinyeel (''Mastacembelus shiranus'') is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae The Mastacembelidae are a family of fishes, known as the spiny eels. The Mastacembelids are part of the Order Synbranchiformes, the swamp eels ...

'' Günther, 1896 (Malawi spiny eel) * ''

Mastacembelus simbi ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

'' Vreven & Stiassny, 2009 * ''

Mastacembelus strigiventus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' W. Zhou & L. P. Yang, 2011 * ''

Mastacembelus taiaensis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' ( Travers, 1992) * ''

Mastacembelus tanganicae ''Mastacembelus tanganicae'' is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika () is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second-largest by v ...

'' Günther, 1894 * ''

Mastacembelus thacbaensis ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' V. H. Nguyễn & H. D. Nguyễn, 2005 –

of ''M. undulatus'' according to Catalog of Fishes * ''

Mastacembelus tinwini ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' Britz, 2007 * ''

Mastacembelus traversi ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' ( Vreven & Teugels, 1997) * ''

Mastacembelus triolobus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' W. Zhou & L. P. Yang, 2011 * ''

Mastacembelus trispinosus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are a ...

Steindachner Franz Steindachner (11 November 1834 in Vienna – 10 December 1919 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist. He published over 200 papers on fishes and over 50 papers on reptiles and amphibians. Steindachner describ ...

, 1911 * ''

Mastacembelus undulatus ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' ( McClelland, 1844) * ''

Mastacembelus unicolor ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' G. Cuvier, 1832 * ''

Mastacembelus vanderwaali ''Mastacembelus'' is a genus of many species of spiny eel fish from the family Mastacembelidae. They are native to Africa (c. 45 species) and Asia (c. 15 species). Most are found in rivers and associated systems (even in rapids), but there are al ...

'' P. H. Skelton, 1976 (Ocellated spiny eel) * ''

Mastacembelus zebratus The zebra spinyeel (''Mastacembelus zebratus'') is a species of fish in the family Mastacembelidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika () is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the se ...

'' Matthes, 1962

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2233752 Mastacembelidae Taxa named by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli Freshwater fish genera