AMPHIPNOUS CUCHIA (SWAMP EEL)

Contents hide

1) Introduction

2) Classification of Amphipnous cuchia (Swamp Eel)

3) Geographical distribution

4) Habit and habitat

5) General Characteristics of Amphipnous cuchia (Swamp Eel)

6) Ecological Importance

7) Conservation Status of Amphipnous cuchia (Swamp Eel)

8) Special features

9) Identification

Introduction

Amphipnous cuchia, commonly referred to as the cuchia or swamp eel, is a fascinating freshwater fish belonging to the family Synbranchidae. This air-breathing species is known for its elongated, snake-like body and remarkable adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. Native to South and Southeast Asia, it thrives in a variety of aquatic habitats, including marshes, ponds, and rice fields.

Cuchia holds significant ecological and economic importance. It serves as both predator and prey in its ecosystem and is valued in aquaculture and traditional medicine. Due to habitat destruction and overfishing, however, its populations are under pressure, necessitating conservation measures.

Classification of Amphipnous cuchia (Swamp Eel)

Phylum :- Chordata (Dorsal tubular nerve cord, notochord and gill-slits present.)
Group :- Craniata (Cranium with brain present.)
Sub phylum :- Vertebrata (Vertebral column present.)
Division :- Gnathostomata (Jaws and paired appendages present.)
Super Class :- Pisces (Paired fins, gills and skin with scales.)
Class :- Osteichthyes (Bony fishes. Skin contains dermal scales. Paired lateral fins present. Gills, air bladder present. Cleavage meroblastic.)
Sub-Class :- Actinopterygii (Modern fishes. Vertebrae amphicoelous. Caudal fin homocercal, Scales cycloid or ctenoid. Nostrils do not communicate with mouth cavity.
Superorder : Teleostei (Bony fish proper)
Order :- Synbranchiformes (Body long and slender. Air bladder with ducts. Gill openings small. Scales minute or absent. Dorsal. caudal and anal fins continuous.)
Genus :- Amphipnous
Species :- cuchia

Geographical distribution

Amphipnous is distributed in India, Myanmar, Africa, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Central and South America.
Found across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Occurs in a range of habitats, from tropical lowland areas to floodplains and wetlands.

Habit and habitat

Amphipnous is found in fresh and brackish water. It is an amphibious fish. It frequently rises to the surface for the purpose of respiration and is often found lying like a snake in the grassy sides of ponds.

Habit:
- Nocturnal and carnivorous, feeding on small fish, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
- Exhibits burrowing behavior, often hiding in mud or vegetation during the day.
- Tolerant of low-oxygen environments due to its ability to breathe atmospheric air
Habitat:
- Prefers freshwater ecosystems, such as marshes, swamps, and ponds.
- Often found in stagnant or slow-moving waters with abundant vegetation.
- Survives in temporary water bodies and can burrow into moist soil during dry seasons.

General Characteristics of Amphipnous cuchia (Swamp Eel)

Commonly called as Eel-like fish.
Fish is long snake-like, about 1 meter in length. Body divided into head, trunk and tail.
Colour of the body is brownish with numerous black spots.
Body is slimy and covered with minute scales.
Paired and median fins absent, caudal fin is reduced, and a membranous flap without rays is present around tail.
Head contains small eyes. Nostril valve opens above orbit.
Stomach caecum absent and anus far behind from the head.
Gill openings covered by operculum are confluent into one slit on the ventral surface.
Chief respiratory organs consist of two separate lung-like air sacs connected with gill cavity

Ecological Importance

Predatory Role: Helps regulate populations of smaller aquatic organisms, maintaining ecosystem balance.
Habitat Engineering: Its burrowing activity aerates the substrate, contributing to nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems.
Food Chain Support: Serves as prey for larger predators, linking trophic levels in the food web.

Conservation Status of Amphipnous cuchia (Swamp Eel)

Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN but faces localized threats, including:
- Habitat degradation due to urbanization, pollution, and agricultural runoff.
- Overexploitation for food, traditional medicine, and the ornamental fish trade.

Conservation Measures:

Habitat restoration and protection of wetlands.
Regulation of fishing practices to prevent overharvesting.
Awareness campaigns about the species’ ecological importance.

Special features

Amphipnous has a respiratory air sac on each side of the neck behind the head and continuous with the gill cavity. It has only one species, Amphipnous cuchia.
Air-Breathing Ability: Possesses a vascularized pharynx that allows it to breathe atmospheric air, enabling survival in oxygen-depleted waters.
Resilience: Capable of withstanding extreme environmental conditions, such as droughts and water pollution.
Economic Importance: Valued as a delicacy in local cuisines and used in traditional medicine for its perceived health benefits.
Reproductive Adaptations: Lays eggs in burrows or secluded areas, with males often guarding the nest to protect the offspring.
Unique Appearance: An elongated, eel-like body with smooth, scaleless skin adapted for life in muddy waters.
Traditional Medicine: Used in Ayurvedic practices for its purported benefits in treating respiratory and digestive ailments.
Aquaculture Potential: Increasingly explored as a candidate species for aquaculture due to its adaptability and high market value.