Mastacembelidae

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iSpiny eels
Macrognathus siamenis
Macrognathus siamenis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Synbranchiformes
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genera
  • Aethiomastacembelus
  • Afromastacembelus
  • Macrognathus
  • Mastacembelus

The Mastacembelidae are a family of fishes, known as the spiny eels. The Mastacembelids are part of the Order Synbranchiformes, the swamp eels, which are part of the Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes). There are four genera, Aethiomastacembelus (19 species) and Afromastacembelus (24 species) from Africa, and Macrognathus and Mastacembelus from Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, China, and India.

Spiny eels generally inhabit soft-bottomed habitats in fresh and brackish water.

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