The African longfin eel[3] (Anguilla mossambica), also known simply as the longfin eel, is an eel in the family Anguillidae.[4] It was described by Wilhelm Peters in 1852, originally under the genus Muraena.[5] It is a tropical eel known from freshwaters in southern Kenya, Cape Agulhas, Madagascar, and New Caledonia. The eels spend most of their lives in freshwaters far inland, but migrate to the Western Indian Ocean to breed. Males can reach a maximum total length of 150 centimetres; females can reach a maximum standard length of 120 centimetres and a maximum weight of 5,000 grams. The eels can live for about 20 years.[4] Juveniles and adults are known to feed off of carcasses, crabs, and bony fish.[6]
Username: Ebook Published on 2024-12-16 10:19:05 ID NUMBER: 127215
The American Eel lives in the far-flung corners of the North Atlantic. It has a snakelike body and can grow up to five feet, though most individuals measure only two to three feet.
Its skin ranges from yellow to green-brown, and it has a lighter belly, camouflaging it in riverbeds and coastal waters.
These types of eels are both freshwater and saltwater eels. They spend most of their lives in freshwater or brackish environments. However, during the breeding season, they migrate to the ocean.
Additionally, these true eels eat various prey, such as insects, crustaceans, and fish. At night, the American eel emerges from the sand to hunt. They also don’t hesitate to step onto land for food.
The European Eel can grow up to 5 feet long and camouflage itself in its environment. Moreover, they are nocturnal hunters that feed on insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and other small aquatic animals.
Additionally, European Eels are catadromous; they spend most of their lives in freshwater or brackish waters and travel to the Sargasso Sea to breed1.
They turn from larvae to glass eels during their journey, then to yellow and silver eels. These types of eels can also breathe through their skin, enabling them to survive short periods of drought.
The Japanese Eel lives off the coast of Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the northern regions of the South China Sea. They are olive green, tranquil brown, white, or soft yellow. Moreover, they have small heads with large eyes that help them see in the dark.
The Japanese Eel migrates most of its time in freshwater or brackish waters. During the breeding season, they migrate into the ocean, swimming hundreds, or even thousands, of miles to reach spawning grounds in the far West of the North Pacific Ocean.
Part of the eel life cycle is the development of leptocephali, offspring that rely on ocean currents to guide them back to their freshwater habitats for several months3.
The mottled eel (Anguilla bengalensis), also known as the African mottled eel, the Indian longfin eel, the Indian mottled eel, the long-finned eel or the river eel is a demersal, catadromous eel in the family Anguillidae. It was described by John McClelland in 1844. It is a tropical, freshwater eel which is known from East Africa, Bangladesh, Andaman Islands, Mozambique, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and Indonesia and recently from Madagascar. The eels spend most of their lives in freshwater at a depth range of 3–10 metres, but migrate to the Indian Ocean to breed. Males can reach a maximum total length of 121 centimetres and a maximum weight of 7,000 grams. The eels feed primarily off of benthic crustaceans, mollusks, finfish and worms.
The Indonesian Shortfin Eel is a deep-brown to light-yellow eel that inhabits the Indian Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean, and Indonesian waters. It is a unique subspecies of the Shortfin Eel, characterized by its shorter dorsal fin beyond the pectoral fins. This catadromous eel lives in freshwater rivers and streams.
During the breeding season, these eels swim against the current and return to the ocean. Moreover, the Indonesian Shortfin Eel embarks on land excursions, using its slender body and sharp pectoral fins to explore new territories. They undertake these journeys at night when they emerge from their burrows and crevices.
Scanning their surroundings for prey, they mainly feed on small fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.
The African longfin eel[3] (Anguilla mossambica), also known simply as the longfin eel, is an eel in the family Anguillidae.[4] It was described by Wilhelm Peters in 1852, originally under the genus Muraena.[5] It is a tropical eel known from freshwaters in southern Kenya, Cape Agulhas, Madagascar, and New Caledonia. The eels spend most of their lives in freshwaters far inland, but migrate to the Western Indian Ocean to breed. Males can reach a maximum total length of 150 centimetres; females can reach a maximum standard length of 120 centimetres and a maximum weight of 5,000 grams. The eels can live for about 20 years.[4] Juveniles and adults are known to feed off of carcasses, crabs, and bony fish.[6]
The Zebra Moray Eel has a body pattern of alternating black and white stripes. It commonly lives in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, Hawaii, and the eastern coast of Africa. The eel's teeth are shaped like molars, crushing crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, and mollusks before eating them.
Despite its unique appearance and eating habits, this type of eel is peaceful. When approached by divers or snorkelers, it retreats to rocky shelters.
The freshwater habitats of New Zealand are home to the New Zealand Longfin Eel. These eels can grow up to 6.6 feet long, with females reaching this maximum size. Hence, the New Zealand Longfin Eel is one of the world’s largest eel species.
These eels are olive green to brown. Their long dorsal fins are notable features; they undulate gracefully, helping them move quietly during nocturnal hunts. Despite their size, they are shy creatures.
During the day, they hide in shadowy locations, such as submerged logs or unseen crevices. Their keen sense of smell helps them find prey, primarily invertebrates, small mammals, and other fish.
Moreover, these eels can live for over a century but only breed once. During the breeding season, they embark on an epic journey from their freshwater homes to their spawning grounds in the deep Pacific Ocean near Tonga. After mating, the eels die. Then, thousands of minute larvae return to New Zealand, guided by the waves.
The speckled longfin eel, Australian long-finned eel or marbled eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) is one of 15 species of eel in the family Anguillidae. It has a long snake-like cylindrical body with its dorsal, tail and anal fins joined to form one long fin. The dorsal fin also often extends farther than the anal fin. It usually has a brownish green or olive green back and sides with small darker spots or blotches all over its body. Its underside is paler.[2] It has a small gill opening on each side of its wide head, with thick lips. It is Australia's largest freshwater eel, and the female usually grows much larger than the male.[2][3] It is also known as the spotted eel.
The Southern Shortfin Eel typically inhabits cooler freshwater areas in Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. This species is dark brown and olive green, with a lighter underbelly and a shorter dorsal fin. Due to their snake-like locomotion, they can briefly go on land.
The Southern Shortfin Eel also starts life in the deep Coral Sea, turning from larvae into transparent glass eels. Braving numerous challenges, these eels journey from their birthplace to freshwater habitats. Female eels are larger than males, growing up to 3.3 feet long.
These types of eels prefer to stay hidden during the day under rocks and vegetation. They are active at night, feeding on fish, crustaceans, insects, and worms.
The purple spaghetti-eel[2] (Moringua raitaborua) is an eel in the family Moringuidae (spaghetti/worm eels).[3] It was described by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1822, originally under the genus Muraena.[4] It is a tropical eel known from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It inhabits rivers and estuaries (including ones in West Bengal, linked to the Ganges River), and has adapted to rapid and wide changes in salinity, pH, and osmoregulatory and hypoxic conditions.[5] Males can reach a maximum standard length of 44 cm.
Snake eels or worm eels look like snakes with long bodies and a scaled texture. They range in color from brown to bright hues and often have patterns serving as camouflage. They live in marine, brackish, and sometimes freshwater environments and spend most of the day burrowed in sand or mud.
This type of eel has a forward escape technique—they disappear by moving forward, not backward, into the sand. Additionally, their hard, pointed tails are uniquely adapted for burrowing. These traits showcase the fascinating adaptability of life underwater.
Pike conger eels can live in fresh and saltwater environments, although they typically prefer saltwater. These eels can grow from two to eight feet long and survive depths of up to 2624.67 ft.
Approximately fifteen different species of pike conger eels live around the world.
Sawtooth eels are pelagic fish living in the dark depths of the ocean. Their name comes from their inward-facing saw-like teeth. This type of eel comprises around eleven species; most sawtooth eels have a maximum size of 24 to 28 in.
Growing up to 5 feet, this long, slender eel moves quickly through the rocky reef environment. The Mediterranean Moray Eel ranges from dark brown to soft grey, with a yellowish underbelly. It doesn't have pectoral fins.
This eel feeds on fish, squids, and octopuses. However, it's far from the top of the food chain as larger fish and marine mammals like seals and sea lions also prey on them.
Moreover, the Mediterranean Moray Eel forces water over its gills to breathe, requiring it to open and close its mouth rhythmically.
The Giant Moray Eel lives in the Indo-Pacific region's rocky seafloors and coral reefs. It is the world's largest moray eel, measuring 10 feet and weighing over 66 pounds. (The Slender Giant Moray Eel is longer.) Its brown skin has a unique dark spot pattern contrasting with the colorful reefs.
Moreover, this nocturnal eel hides in crevices and caves to avoid predators and rest for its nighttime hunts for fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans.
The Giant Moray Eel also forms alliances with coral groupers to hunt prey. It chases prey into open waters while the grouper takes advantage.
The California Moray Eel lives in the moonlit kelp forests of the eastern Pacific. Their color palette ranges from bronze to olive green and can grow up to 60 in long, although most average around 24 in. Despite their size, they are shy and spend their days hidden in rocky alcoves, away from other marine life.
At nightfall, the California Moray Eel becomes active and relies on its sense of smell to locate small fish or various invertebrates. It creates a cloud of slime to trap and paralyze its victim against the reef or kelp.
Additionally, the eel starts life as a female and becomes a male as it matures through a phenomenon called protogyny.
The California Moray is a primarily solitary species that mainly interacts with others during mating.
The Longfin African conger lives in the Indo-Pacific oceans, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesas and Easter Islands. They can survive depths of 262 feet, growing up to 4.3 feet long.
This type of eel feeds on small fish and crustaceans. It has an elongated body and fin extending from just behind the head to the tip of the tail, earning it the name 'Longfin.'
The Snowflake Moray Eel has a distinctive pattern of black splotches resembling snowflakes. It is a relatively small eel, typically up to 24 inches long. They live in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, among coral reefs and rock formations in warm summer waters.
The nocturnal Snowflake Moray Eel spends the day in reef crevices to avoid the sun. It is skilled enough to navigate its underwater labyrinth and hunt for food at night. Moreover, its long, flexible body allows it to probe into narrow corners and crevices, looking for small fish and crustaceans.
The Snowflake Moray Eel is peaceful when not on the hunt, attracting aquarium owners worldwide.
The Green Moray Eel inhabits the deep, shadowy waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. Green Moray Eels can grow up to 7.2 feet long and weigh approximately 64 lbs.
Despite its name, this species is not green, but its natural color is soft brown with a layer of yellow mucus. When hit by light, this mucus gives the appearance of vibrant green.
These types of eels periodically open and close their mouths because their gills require a continuous flow of water for breathing. They eat mainly fish, squids, and crabs. Lastly, they hide in dark crevices of coral reefs or rocky underwater terrains during the day and come out at night to hunt.
The African longfin eel[3] (Anguilla mossambica), also known simply as the longfin eel, is an eel in the family Anguillidae.[4] It was described by Wilhelm Peters in 1852, originally under the genus Muraena.[5] It is a tropical eel known from freshwaters in southern Kenya, Cape Agulhas, Madagascar, and New Caledonia. The eels spend most of their lives in freshwaters far inland, but migrate to the Western Indian Ocean to breed. Males can reach a maximum total length of 150 centimetres; females can reach a maximum standard length of 120 centimetres and a maximum weight of 5,000 grams. The eels can live for about 20 years.[4] Juveniles and adults are known to feed off of carcasses, crabs, and bony fish.[6]
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surface area.[9] With nearly 1.4 billion people as of 2021, it accounts for about 18% of the world's human population. Africa's population is the youngest among all the continents;[10][11] the median age in 2012 was 19.7, when the worldwide median age was 30.4.[12] Based on 2024 projections, Africa's population will reach 3.8 billion people by 2099.[13] Africa is the least wealthy inhabited continent per capita and second-least wealthy by total wealth, ahead of Oceania. Scholars have attributed this to different factors including geography, climate,[14] corruption,[14] colonialism, the Cold War,[15][16] and neocolonialism. Despite this low concentration of wealth, recent economic expansion and a large and young population make Africa an important economic market in the broader global context. Africa has a large quantity of natural resources and food resources, including diamonds, sugar, salt, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, natural gas, cocoa beans, and tropical fruit.
Africa
# Country Population
(2024) Land Area
(Km²) Density
(P/Km²)
1 Nigeria 232,679,478 910,770 255
2 Ethiopia 132,059,767 1,000,000 132
3 Egypt 116,538,258 995,450 1174 Democratic Republic of the Congo 109,276,265 2,267,050 48
5 Tanzania 68,560,157 885,800 77
6 South Africa 64,007,187 1,213,090 53
7 Kenya 56,432,944 569,140 99
8 Sudan 50,448,963 1,765,048 29
9 Uganda 50,015,092 199,810 250
10 Algeria 46,814,308 2,381,740 20
11 Morocco 38,081,173 446,300 85
12 Angola 37,885,849 1,246,700 30
13 Mozambique 34,631,766 786,380 44
14 Ghana 34,427,414 227,540 151
15 Madagascar 31,964,956 581,795 55
16 Côte d'Ivoire 31,934,230 318,000 100
17 Cameroon 29,123,744 472,710 62
18 Niger 27,032,412 1,266,700 21
19 Mali 24,478,595 1,220,190 20
20 Burkina Faso 23,548,781 273,600 86
21 Malawi 21,655,286 94,280 230
22 Zambia 21,314,956 743,390 29
23 Chad 20,299,123 1,259,200 16
24 Somalia 19,009,151 627,340 30
25 Senegal 18,501,984 192,530 96
26 Zimbabwe 16,634,373 386,850 43
27 Guinea 14,754,785 245,720 60
28 Benin 14,462,724 112,760 128
29 Rwanda 14,256,567 24,670 578
30 Burundi 14,047,786 25,680 547
31 Tunisia 12,277,109 155,360 79
32 South Sudan 11,943,408 610,952 20
33 Togo 9,515,236 54,390 175
34 Sierra Leone 8,642,022 72,180 120
35 Libya 7,381,023 1,759,540 4
36 Congo 6,332,961 341,500 19
37 Liberia 5,612,817 96,320 58
38 Central African Republic 5,330,690 622,980 9
39 Mauritania 5,169,395 1,030,700 5
40 Eritrea 3,535,603 101,000 35
41 Namibia 3,030,131 823,290 4
42 Gambia 2,759,988 10,120 273
43 Gabon 2,538,952 257,670 10
44 Botswana 2,521,139 566,730 4
45 Lesotho 2,337,423 30,360 77
46 Guinea-Bissau 2,201,352 28,120 78
47 Equatorial Guinea 1,892,516 28,050 67
48 Mauritius 1,271,169 2,030 626
49 Eswatini 1,242,822 17,200 72
50 Djibouti 1,168,722 23,180 50
51 Réunion 878,591 2,500 351
52 Comoros 866,628 1,861 466
53 Western Sahara 590,506 266,000 2
54 Cabo Verde 524,877 4,030 130
55 Mayotte 326,505 375 871
56 Sao Tome and Principe 235,536 960 245
57 Seychelles 130,418 460 284
58 Saint Helena 5,237 390 13
African forest elephants roam the dense rainforests of West and Central Africa where they subsist largely on a diet of fruit. They shape forests by dispersing fruit and seeds, browsing, and creating an extensive trail network.
These tall and stately plants make beautiful borders along fences, at the back of perennial beds to set off other flowers, and as a large patch all on their own. African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) are good for cutting for arrangements with long, sturdy stems and good vase life. They are relatively low-maintenance summer flowers and thrive in hot, dry conditions. Here are a few of the prettiest varieties of African marigolds to try:
The African Striped Weasel is a small and brave creature found across the savannas and forests of Africa. They have a striking striped coat that helps them blend into the background and avoid predators. These nocturnal animals eat small rodents, birds, insects, and fruit.
During mating season, the females give birth to 2-3 blind and helpless babies. These little ones grow up quickly and show the same resilience as their parents.
The African Rock Python is a large snake species native to sub-Saharan Africa, thriving in savannas, rainforests, and marshlands.
They are known for their impressive size; on average, they can stretch up to 11 feet. However, some specimens reached almost 20 feet. Their skin features dark brown blotches on a light brown or olive backdrop, which helps them blend into their surroundings.
African Rock Pythons prey on rodents, monkeys, antelopes, and crocodiles. Their hunting technique involves constricting their prey.
The North African Crested Porcupine is one of the largest rodents in the world. Its black or brown body is covered with porcupine quills that can reach up to 14 inches. It prefers rocky terrain, where it spends most of the day in complex burrows.
While generally peaceful, the Crested Porcupine will fight back when it perceives an immediate threat.
The Cape Porcupine has black quills with white or yellowish stripes, a crucial defense mechanism. It lives in a wide range of habitats across Africa.
While primarily an herbivore, Cape Porcupines also gnaw on bones to supplement their diet with calcium. They are also good swimmers and climbers.
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