Habitat Preference, Reproduction and Diet of the Earthworm Eel, Chendol keelini (Teleostei: Chaudhuriidae) |
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Authors: | Robert Kerle Ralf Britz Peter KL Ng |
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Institution: | (1) Lehrstuhl für Spezielle Zoologie, Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;(2) Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore, 119260;(3) Lehrstuhl für Spezielle Zoologie, Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076, Tübingen, Germany;(4) Department of Ichthyology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10025, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | The ecology of the earthworm eel, Chendol keelini, was studied in the field over a period of nine months. In addition this information was supplemented by aquarium observations. The species was most abundant in pools where it was associated with leaf litter and mats of fine tree roots along the banks. It fed on benthic invertebrates, especially chironomid and ephemeropteran larvae. C. keelini is sexually dimorphic; adult males develop a headhump and grow to a larger size than females. Reproduction was seasonal; the reproductive phase coincided with the wet season and lasted for several months. Fecundity was around 40 eggs per clutch. The eggs were spherical, between 1.2 and 1.5 mm in diameter, and possessed a pair of long filaments for adhesion to the substrate. Females probably spawned more than once during the breeding season. The length frequency distributions and juvenile growth suggest that C. keelini is a short-lived species that matures during the first year with few individuals surviving to the second breeding season. |
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Keywords: | Synbranchiformes Malaysia freshwater swamp small fish life history sexual dimorphism seasonal reproduction fecundity egg size |
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