Cook Islands Biodiversity Database

Species Page

Back to: «« Search Page | « Results Page

Add to My List

Anguilla obscura

Tuna Māori

Pacific Shortfin Eel

Multimedia & Additional Resources

Type	Description	Download
Image:	50cmTL adult (Rarotonga 1)	74KB
Image:	Adult (Rarotonga 2)	72KB
Image:	Head and mouth	54KB
Image:	Pukapuka Loto (?ID)	64KB

General Information

COMMON NAMES: Pacific Shortfin Eel

TRADITIONAL NAMES: Tuna Māori (RR), Tuna (MG MK AK), Tuna / Tuna Matakā (AT), ‘Itiki (MT), Tuna Talinga [ID?] (TS), Tuna Taringa [ID?] (TW), Tuna Wenua (PK)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE wPNG - Tuamotus; s. to New Caledonia

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native, Migrant, Non-breeder; S.Group - common; N.Group - rare; Freshwater, lowland swamps and ponds, breed at sea

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present Makatea: Present
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
++++	P	P		++++	++

Northern Group: Present
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
			+

Key to Symbols

blank	no data
-	absent	L	localised
X	extinct 'naturally'	W	widespread
XQi	quarantine intercepted	R	recent
XQe	eradicated	?	query preceding category
P	present	T?	taxonomic query
S	seasonal	nn	present, said to have no name
O	occasional	?1	present, name not investigated
++++	very common	?2	presence not verified, no name recorded
+++	common	N/A	absent, name not expected
++	uncommon
+	rare
Cook Islands islands: RR =Rarotonga, MG = Mangaia, AT =‘Ātiu, MK=Ma‘uke, MT=Miti‘āro, AK=Aitutaki, PL=Palmerston, PN=Penrhyn, MN=Manuae, TK=Takūtea, TN=Tongareva (TS=Tongaleva Spoken, TW=Tongareva Written, they say "el" but write "r"), MH=Manihiki, RK=Rakahanga, PK=Pukapuka, NS=Nassau, SW=Suwarrow. After a Polynesian name: ^=orthography query. Countries and other: FIJ=Fiji, WT=Wallis & Futuna, SAM=Samoa, TON=Tonga, NIU=Niue, CK=Cook Islands, CKM=Cook Islands Māori, FP=French Polynesia, AUS=Australs, SOC=Societies, TAH=Tahiti, TUA=Tuamotus, MQS=Marquesas, MNG=Mangareva, PIT=Pitcain group, EAS=Easter Island, HAW=Hawai‘i, NZ=New Zealand, NZM=New Zealand Māori

Scientific Taxonomy

Anguilla obscura Günther, 1872
TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); PISCES; OSTEICHTHYES; Anguilliformes; Anguilloidei; ANGUILLIDAE

Vouchers & References

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: 95 specimens 3/91, typically 350-450mm max 520mm, found dead Avatiu Harbour w.shelf, ID G.McCormack; specimen Matavera swamp 1/98 Teariki Piri 1350mm ID G.McCormack. Atiu: 2 specimens Vaine Moeroa Koronui lake cave 6/91 643mm & 1053mm ID G.McCormack. Mitiaro: Jellyman 1991, Pac. Sci. 45(4):362-373. Pukapuka: fieldspecimen+photo, K.Salisbury ID as an anguillid, ID from photo by G.McCormack as Anguilla ?obscura 12/2004, although the origin of the dorsal fin is not clear - need an actual specimen to confirm.

References:
Special Reference: Jellyman 1991, Biology of the shortfinned eel Anguilla obscura in Lake Te Rotonui, Mitiaro, Cook Is. Pac. Sci. 45(4): 362-373.

Species No. 125 Munro (1967) Fishes of New Guinea

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM05a, zupM05b

Web Resources

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org.
Please refer to our use policy.

Biodiversity Database: More Options | Help

My List: View List | Edit List | Clear List