Scientific Name
Monopterus albus  
Pronounce  
Monopterus albus黃鱔
by: Lab of Fish Ecol. and Evo., BRCAS
Author (Zuiew, 1793) Depth 0 - 2M
Chinese 黃鱔 Poisonous Fish No 
Family_Chinese 合鰓魚科 Economic Fish Yes 
Family F300 Synbranchidae Edible Fish Yes  Chinese In Mainland China 黃鱔 
Max Length 100 cm  Aquarium Fish No  Common Name 鱔魚、田鱔、田鰻、長魚、血魚、羅魚、無鱗公子 
Distribution in World East Asia Continent、Taiwan、Japan   Distribution in Taiwan North、Middle、South 
Habitats Fresh water  Holotype Locality No locality stated [Suriname] 
Synonyms Aptergia immaculata, Aptergia nigromaculata, Apterigia immaculata, Apterigia nigromaculata, Apterigia saccogularis, Fluta alba, Gymnotus albus, Monopterus alba, Monopterus cinereus, Monopterus helvolus, Monopterus javanensis, Monopterus laevis, Monopterus marmoratus ...all 23..  
Reference 臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993)  Zuiew, B. 1793 Chan, S.T.H. etc. 1967 沈世傑 編 Shih-Chieh Shen ed. 1993 陳義雄,方力行 1999 
Specimen List ASIZP0058340. ASIZP0071096. ASIZP0071105. ASIZP0071110. ASIZP0804423. ASIZP0804424. ASIZP0804428. ASIZP0914423. ASIZP0914424. ASIZP0914428. FRIP00439. FRIP00440. mnhn1911-0212. mnhn1911-0213. mnhn1911-0214. mnhn1911-0215. mnhn1911-0216. NMMBP04633. NMMBP04634. NMMSTP00371. NMNSF00528. NMNSF01320. NMNSF01332. NTHUB02094. NTMP0906. NTUM02151. NTUM05259. SIO69-375b. SIO84-4. SU18265. SU18266. SU23021. SU23172. USNM00163319. USNM00177456. USNM00177461. USNM00177462. ...List all 48 records... 
Barcode2012-01-15,Chia-Hao Chang,CO1,100% 2012-01-15,Chia-Hao Chang,CO1,100% 2012-01-15,張家豪,CO1,100%
Common Name Rice (paddy) field eel; Rice swampeel; Rice paddy eel; Rice eel; Swamp eel 
Redlist Status NL Not in IUCN Redlist     LC 2012 Redlist of Fresh Water Fishes::LC
Characteristic Head moderately large, shaped like a blunt awl. Gill openings merged into a single slit underneath head. Mouth large and protractile, both upper and lower jaw with tiny teeth. Eyes small, covered by skin, on upper side of head; interorbital distance long. Body cylindrical, elongated like a snake, posterior laterally compressed, tampering to a slender point; scales absent; lateral line complete. Pectoral and pelvic fins absent; dorsal and anal fins reduced to a skin fold and confluent with caudal fin; caudal fin small. Plain colored, dark brown dorsally, yellowish ventrally; irregular dark spots spread all over the body.
habitats Demersal, occurs in streamlets, canals, ponds, swamps and paddy fields, prefers slowing running water, burrows in moist earth and rests inside, can be kept alive for a period of time during dry season there. Can breath atmospheric air. Nocturnal predator, 
Distribution Extensively distributed in eastern Asia and islands nearby, ranging from India to China. Abundant in western portion of Taiwan. 
Utility