TUNA - EELS LONGFIN AND SHORTFIN

Most of us have seen Eels in our waterways, the two most common are the Longfin eel and the Shortfin eel.

What’s the difference

The two main species of freshwater eel found in New Zealand are the longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and the shortfin eel (Anguilla australis).
On a longfin eel, the dorsal (top) fin extends a lot further forward than the anal (bottom) fin. The dorsal fin of a shortfin eel only extends a little further forward than the anal fin. - DOC
LINKS:
DOC website
Eels activity sheet - DOC

Most of us have seen Eels in our waterways, the two most common are the Longfin eel and the Shortfin eel.

LONGFIN EEL - Kūwharuwharu

Scientific name - Anguilla dieffenbachii
Endemic to New Zealand, the longfin eel is named because it’s dorsal (top) fin is longer than its bottom fin, one of the largest eels in the world. They can live up to 80 years; some females can reach 2 metres long and weigh up to 40kg.
LINKS:
Amazing facts - Forest and Bird website
Auckland Zoo - Longfin eel
Science learning hub - path to extinction
Climate change
Tuna Kuwharuwharu PDF by Rangitāne education

Shortfin eel - Tuna

Scientific name - Anguilla australis
Native to New Zealand, the Shortfin eel is found in Australia and throughout the South Pacific. Common in lowland waterways but do not venture inland as far as longfins. They are ferocious predators eating crustaceans, fish, frogs and even birds. Migrating to the sea to spawn, they travel thousands of kilometres to deep water close to Tonga.
LINKS:
DOC website - longfin/shortfin comparison image

Eels were vital food for Māori

Eels were a vital food for Māori, who caught them using weirs built on rivers or with traps, nets, spears and bait. Many eels were captured on their yearly migrations to the sea, and live eels were kept in cages or ponds as a ready food supply.
LINKS:
Teara website - Story : Te hopu tuna - feeling
Waihao.co.nz