Macrognathus

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Macrognathus
Macrognathus siamensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Synbranchiformes Family: Mastacembelidae Genus: Macrognathus Lacepède, 1800
Species
M. aculeatus M. aral M. caudiocellatus M. circumcinctus M. guentheri M. keithi M. maculatus M. malabaricus M. meklongensis M. morehensis M. pancalus M. semiocellatus M. siamensis M. taeniagaster M. tapirus M. zebrinus

Macrognathus is a genus of eel-like fish of the family Mastacembelidae of the order Synbranchiformes.

These fish are distributed throughout most of India and Southeast Asia.^[1] Macrognathus species feed on small aquatic insect larvae as well as oligochaetes.^[1]

[edit] Appearance and anatomy

Macrognathus species attain 20–25 centimetres (8–10 in).^[1]

Macrognathus are mostly similar to Mastacembelus. However, they differ in a more modified rostrum, which may be slightly to significantly larger and longer than those found in Mastacembelus. This serves not only to find food but also to help gather food.^[1]

[edit] In the aquarium

A number of species of this genus are popular aquarium fish. These include the lesser spiny eel, Macrognathus aculeatus, the spotfinned spiny eel, Macrognathus siamensis, as well as others.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Roberts, Tyson R. (1980). "A Revision of the Asian Mastacembelid Fish Genus Macrognathus". Copeia 1980 (3): 385–391. doi:10.2307/1444512.