#synbranchidae

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Think all eels live in water? Think again! In 2018 scientists described a new species of swamp eel which they believe resides almost entirely on land. The eel, dubbed Rakthamichthys rongsaw, is bright pink and has extremely tiny, almost non-functional eyes; a result of its subterranean lifestyle depriving it of the need for sight or pigment. Only one individual has been found in north-east India, so the extent of its distribution is currently unknown.

(Image: The only known specimin of Rakthamichthys rongsaw by Rachunliu G Kamei)

[herpsandbirds]

Asian Swamp Eel aka Rice Paddy Eel (Monopterus albus), family Synbranchidae, order Synbranchiformes, found in East and SE Asia

photos: Seah TM, Hyun-tae Kim, & Karolina Tomaszek

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Swamp eels get the best of both worlds in just about everything! They feed readily on animals, plants, and carrion. They have gills to breathe in water, and thanks to the high number of blood vessels present in the mouth and throat, most species are also able to breathe air, and can even move across land to find new bodies of water. Lastly, many species are also protogynus, beginning their lives as female and transitioning to male as they get older.

(Image: An Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) by Hyun-tae Kim)

[herpsandbirds]

Sunda Swamp Eel (Monopterus javanensis), family Synbranchidae, order Synbranchiformes, found in the SE part of Southeast Asia

photos: WaiKai Yeong, Nonn Panitvong, Siang Liang Yeoh