Indian Mottled Freshwater Eel, Anguilla bengalensis Bengalensis (Gray, 1831), A Threatened Species of Indian Subcontinent- A Review

The Indian mottled freshwater eel, Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis is globally consumed species which has good demand as a food fish as having high nutritional value. Eels have always been a source for human interest for their interesting shape and size. It was considered a luxury food and consumed as a delicacy by Greeks, Romans, Germans, Japanese and people of several Asian and European countries, whereas in India eels are considered as poor man's food. But their export demand offers scope for culture and live transport to foreign markets. Fish mucous from live fish mixed with rice or wheat flour is used as medicine for arthritis. It has been reported as near Threatened species in IUCN list. The common threats of extinction facing like many other freshwater fishes such as pollution, harmful fishing practices, habitat modification and degradation, environmental degradation, overfishing, game fishing and barrier effects of dams etc. The present study has been prepared with the aim to sum up the available information on different aspects of A. bengalensis bengalensis along with note down the possible measures that should for its conservation.