APATURINAE Emperors FAUNA PARAGUAY

Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebbeca Zarza, José Luis Cartes and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

FIGURE 4

FIGURE 5

FIGURE 6

FIGURE 7

FIGURE 1 - Marbled Swamp-Eel Synbranchus marmoratus lateral - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Ted Faust May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 2 - Same individual underside - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Jeni Oborn May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 3 - Same individual lateral head - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Ted Faust May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 4 - Same individual upper head - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Ted Faust May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 5 - Same individual frontal - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Jeni Oborn May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 6 - Same individual dorsal head - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Jeni Oborn May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 7 - Marbled Swamp-Eel Synbranchus marmoratus juvenile - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Ted Faust May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).

SYMBRANCHIDAE - SWAMP-EELS
The sole member of its family in Paraguay, the Mbusu or Marbled Swamp-Eel is a powerful predator that lies in wait concealed in rocky riverbottoms, waiting to strike at passing prey. It is a large fish growing to over 90cm in length and though it looks vicious it is not considered dangerous to humans - in fact small individuals are popular aquarium fish!. The head is actually rather small, though the muscular neck makes it appears much larger! This species is able to breathe air.