Ecology and biology of the commercially valuable freshwater Asian swamp eel, Monopterus albus

Asian swamp eel, Monopterus albus (Synbranchidae), a sex reversal, air-breathing and eel-like exotic fish is common in freshwater area of the East and Southeast Asia, and even has been reported in Florida waters in 1997. This fish is easily found in paddy fields, ponds, rivers and swampy areas. Peop...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sow, Ai Yin, Ismail, Ahmad, Zulkifli, Syaizwan Zahmir, Azmai, Mohammad Noor Amal, Hambali, Kamarul
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Malaysian Nature Society’s 2018
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72361/1/Ecology%20and%20biology%20of%20the%20commercially%20valuable%20freshwater%20Asian%20swamp%20eel%2C%20Monopterus%20albus.pdf
Description
Summary:Asian swamp eel, Monopterus albus (Synbranchidae), a sex reversal, air-breathing and eel-like exotic fish is common in freshwater area of the East and Southeast Asia, and even has been reported in Florida waters in 1997. This fish is easily found in paddy fields, ponds, rivers and swampy areas. People, especially farmers, acknowledge it important for protein sources and culture. It is also tasteful, nutritionally rich and medicinally valuable fish with high export demands. However, due to several reasons especially overfishing, its population showed decline and could be potentially classified as a threatened species by IUCN in future. This manuscript will describe its ecological niche and potential for aquaculture activities.