Long-finned Eel

The long-finned is a mysterious and powerful migratory fish found in freshwater systems along Australia’s eastern coastline, from northern QLD to VIC.

These eels live most of their lives in rivers, lakes, and wetlands, where they are top predators feeding on insects, fish, crustaceans, and even small birds. They are nocturnal hunters and are known for their strength and slippery, snake-like bodies.

Long-finned eels can live for decades in freshwater, some over 50 years, before making a single, extraordinary migration to the Coral Sea to spawn. After spawning, they die, and their tiny leaf-like larvae drift back on ocean currents to the Australian coast, where they grow into glass eels and eventually return inland.

The life cycle of this eel has long fascinated scientists and is still not fully understood. Much of its oceanic journey remains a mystery, adding to the species’ mystique.

Today, their biggest threats include habitat fragmentation, barriers to migration like dams and weirs, and water pollution. Efforts are underway in some regions to restore fish passageways and protect these remarkable animals.

The long-finned eel remains one of Australia’s most resilient and mysterious freshwater species—ancient travellers of both river and sea.

Long-finned eels are known for their climbing abilities, including the ability to climb waterfalls. They can navigate obstacles like dams and waterfalls by utilizing their bodies to grip wet surfaces using friction and surface tension.