Mastacembelus ellipsifer

Mastacembelus ellipsifer

Mastacembelid Fish of African Waters

Tropical
Local endemic species
Single-lake endemic
Freshwater fish
Africa
Anguilliform
Medium
Tropical fish

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 Tanganyikan basin (fourteen endemic).

Class: Teleosts
Order: Swamp Eels
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Mastacembelus
Maximum length: 45 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: anguilliform
Distribution: Africa: endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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