[Ichthyology • 2002] Blind eel | Monopterus digressus • Subterranean Synbranchid fish from the Western Ghats in Kerala, India

Blind eel | Monopterus digressus

• Subterranean Synbranchid fish from Kerala, Peninsular India

Abstract

Foraging behaviour was studied in five specimens of the eyeless, cord-like eel Monopterus digressus collected from wells charged from subterranean streams, situated at the western periphery of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India. Feeding experiments were conducted using two types of live prey, and indicated the absence of visually oriented predatory movement. Dependence on olfactory as well as tactile stimuli for foraging in the absence of visual cues was evidenced.

Keywords: Predation, Monopterus digressus, Blind eel, Extra-visual orientation

References:

• Gopi, K.C. 2002. "A new Synbranchid fish, Monopterus digressus from Kerala, Peninsular India." Records of Zoological Survey of India. 100.1-2: 137-143.

• Moncey Vincent and John Thomas. 2002. Observations on the foraging behaviour of a subterranean fish Monopterus digressus (Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae). Ichthyological Research. 58 (1): 95-98. DOI: 10.1007/s10228-010-0194-y