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Common Shore Eel
Alabes dorsalis (Richardson, 1845)
Common Shore Eels caught in a rock pool near Clydes Island, Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania, February 2008. Photo © J. Wood. View larger image.
The Common Shore Eel is an elongate fish with a small head and a narrow gill slit on the underside of the head. The continuous dorsal, anal and caudal fins lack fin rays. There are no scales or lateral line.
The fish is usually brown, greenish or orange, often with large black blotches on the sides of the body.
It grows to about 12 cm in length.
The Common Shore Eel is a temperate marine species that occurs in rocky reefs and inshore waters. It is commonly encountered in rockpools in Victoria and Tasmania.
The species is endemic to Australia, occurring from southern Queensland to South Australia, including Tasmania.
It has also been called the Red-banded Shore Eel and Striped Brown Shore Eel.
The Common Shore Eel is not related to the eels. It is actually a member of the family Gobiesocidae and is related to the Clingfishes.
Related links
- Tasmanian Clingfish fact sheet
- Eastern Cleaner-Clingfish fact sheet
- Grass Clingfish fact sheet
- Kuiter's Deepsea Clingfish fact sheet
- View the Family Gobiesocidae list
- View the Clingfishes list
Further reading
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Hutchins, J.B. Family Gobiesocidae. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
