New Zealand Freshwater Fish

DSC_3239 Longfin eel, or 'yellowbelly' (Anguilla dieffenbachii) endemic. Females may live to be 80+ years, growing large and heavy enough to become the 'taniwha' of maori legend. A monster caught in in the Selwyn River in 1903 was short (1.67m), but with a huge girth, and weighed 26 kg. The heaviest longfin eel ever recorded was caught in Queenstown in 1863, it was reputed to weigh 48kg.

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DSC_3239 Longfin eel, or 'yellowbelly' (Anguilla dieffenbachii) endemic. Females may live to be 80+ years, growing large and heavy enough to become the 'taniwha' of maori legend. A monster caught in in the Selwyn River in 1903 was short (1.67m), but with a huge girth, and weighed 26 kg. The heaviest longfin eel ever recorded was caught in Queenstown in 1863, it was reputed to weigh 48kg.

DSC 3239 Longfin long finned eel yellow belly anguilla dieffenbachii tuna taniwha