''Mastacembelus'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of many species of spiny eel fish from 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, which are part of the Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes).
In an evaluation of the family in 2004, the ...
. 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
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
).
A few species can even occur in
brackish water.
Appearance
![Tyre track eels](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Tyre_track_eels.jpg)
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
The Congo River ( kg, Nzâdi Kôngo, french: Fleuve Congo, pt, Rio Congo), formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge ...
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 ...
'' 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 ...
, 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'' (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 ...
'' 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''* 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 ...
, 1911
* '' Mastacembelus brachyrhinus'' 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 ...
, 1899
* ''Mastacembelus brichardi
''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 ...
'' Poll, (1958) (Blind spiny eel)
* '' Mastacembelus catchpolei'' Fowler, 1936
* '' Mastacembelus congicus'' 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 ...
, 1896
* ''Mastacembelus crassus
''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 ...
'' 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 cryptacanthus'' 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 ...
'' 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 ...
, 1906
* '' Mastacembelus dayi'' 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 ...
, 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'' ]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 ...
, 1899
* ''Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
The fire eel (''Mastacembelus erythrotaenia'') is a relatively large species of spiny eel. This omnivorous freshwater fish is native to in Southeast Asia but is also found in the aquarium trade. Although it has declined locally (especially in Tha ...
'' Bleeker Bleeker is a Dutch occupational surname. Bleeker is an old spelling of ''(linnen)bleker'' ("linen bleacher").Mastacembelus favus
''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 ...
'' Hora, 1924 (Tire track eel)
* '' Mastacembelus flavidus'' 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 ...
''* 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 ...
, 1898
* '' Mastacembelus frenatus'' 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 ...
, 1901 (Longtail spiny eel)
* '' Mastacembelus goro''* 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 ...
, 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 ...
'' 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 ...
, 1901
* '' Mastacembelus kakrimensis'' Vreven & Teugels, 2005
* ''Mastacembelus latens
''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 ...
'' 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 liberiensis'' 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 ...
, 1898
* '' Mastacembelus loennbergii'' 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 ...
, 1898
* '' Mastacembelus malabaricus''* 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, 1879
* ''Mastacembelus mastacembelus
''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 ...
'' (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'' 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 ...
'' 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 ...
, 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 ...
'' Sauvage, 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 ...
'' 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 ...
, 1898
* '' Mastacembelus notophthalmus'' T. R. Roberts, 1989
* '' Mastacembelus oatesii'' 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 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'' 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 ...
, 1899
* '' Mastacembelus plagiostomus'' Matthes, 1962
* '' Mastacembelus platysoma'' Poll & Matthes, 1962
* '' Mastacembelus polli'' 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'' Vreven & Snoeks, 2009
* '' Mastacembelus robertsi'' ( Vreven & Teugels, 1996)
* '' Mastacembelus sanagali'' 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'' ( 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'' Günther, 1896 (Malawi spiny eel)
* '' Mastacembelus simbi'' 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'' 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 – 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. 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'' 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'' G. Cuvier
Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, Baron Cuvier (; 23 August 1769 – 13 May 1832), known as Georges Cuvier, was a French naturalist and zoologist, sometimes referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuvier was a major figure in nat ...
, 1832
* '' Mastacembelus vanderwaali'' 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