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Ophisternon bengalense McClelland, 1844

Bengal eel
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Ophisternon bengalense
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Viet Nam country information

Common names: Lich
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Found in Mekong delta (Ref. 12693). Also Ref. 36625.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Rainboth, W.J., 1996
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Nombres comunes | Sinónimos | Catalog of Fishes(Género, Especie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) > Synbranchidae (Swamp-eels)
Etymology: Ophisternon: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, sternon = chest (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: McClelland.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecología

; agua dulce; salobre demersal.   Tropical; 19°N - 10°S

Distribución Países | Áreas FAO | Ecosistemas | Ocurrencias, apariciones | Point map | Introducciones | Faunafri

Asia and Oceania: India and Sri Lanka to south-eastern Asia, Indonesia, Philippines and New Guinea. Recorded from Australia (Ref. 7300) and Palau (Ref. 6371).

Tamaño / Peso / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 100.0 cm TL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 41236); common length : 20.0 cm SL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 44894)

Biología     Glosario (por ej. epibenthic)

Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Adults inhabit both fresh and brackish waters of rivers and swamps (Ref. 2847, 44894) or near the river mouth (Ref. 13533). They occur mainly in thick vegetation of muddy, still water bodies, such as lagoons, swamps, canals and rice fields (Ref. 6028). Live in soft bottom sediments in quiet, well vegetated backwaters of brackish estuaries and nearby swamps (Ref. 44894), usually in burrows. Prefer estuarine or tidal areas, as efficient burrowers. The male guards and builds nest or burrow (Ref. 205). Marketed fresh, usually not kept alive for long periods of time (Ref. 12693).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproducción | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larva

The male guards and builds nest or burrow (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | Referencias | Coordinador : Fávorito, Sandra | Colaboradores

Allen, G.R., 1991. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of New Guinea. Publication, no. 9. 268 p. Christensen Research Institute, Madang, Papua New Guinea. (Ref. 2847)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 11 August 2019

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses


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