Monopterus albusSwamp Eel
authority not recorded
Max length
1000mm SL39in SL
An incredibly hardy species, M. albus has the ability to travel over land for short distances if kept moist and as mentioned above, often burrows into moist earth (sometimes up to a depth of 1.5 metres!) in order to survive dry conditions. It has only a single gill slit, located on the bottom of the throat, that allows it to trap air in its specially adapted gills. These contain an accessory breathing organ, which takes the form of a pair of lung-like sacs at the rear of the gill chamber. In thi...