CIBED - - Pacific Shortfin Eel

Anguilla obscura Pacific Shortfin Eel Tuna Māori ^RR

f.ANGUILLIDAE Freshwater Eels

Anguilla obscura Pacific Shortfin Eel Tuna Māori ^RR

f.ANGUILLIDAE Freshwater Eels

Cook Islands Status Summary

Show Notes

Intl. NamesPacific Shortfin Eel ^EN Polynesian Shortfin Eel ^EN

Local NamesTuna Māori^RR Tuna^MG,AT,MK,AK Tuna Matakā^AT ‘Itiki^MT Tuna Talinga^TNs Tuna Taringa^TNw Tuna Wenua^PK

Pacific NamesNo Content

Sci. NamesAnguilla obscura (accepted name)

High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, spc.Fishes, c.Bony Fishes, f.Freshwater Eels - Eel

High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.PISCES, c.OSTEICHTHYES, o.Anguilliformes, so.Anguilloidei, f.ANGUILLIDAE

Natl. PresencePresent

Sth. PresenceRR⁺⁺⁺⁺MG^PAT^PMK?MT⁺⁺⁺⁺AK⁺⁺PL?MN?TK?

Nth. PresenceTN?MH?RK?PK⁺NS?SW?

VouchersRR¹⁹⁹¹ AT¹⁰⁵³ MT¹⁹⁹¹ PK²⁰⁰⁴

Local OriginNative; Migrant; Breeding elsewhere

Global RangeNative: w.PNG - Tuamotus; s. to New Caledonia;

HabitatAquatic - Freshwater - Streams, Drains, Lakes, Ponds; Marine

ThreatenedNo Content

InvasivenessNo Content

BiosecurityNo Content

Medical StatusNo Content

Harmful StatusNo Content

UsesNo Content

IdentificationNo Content

Multimedia & Other Resources

Photographs: 4
Video: 0
Audio: 0
Documents: 0
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5BB068_Angu-obsc_

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50cmTL adult (Rarotonga 1)

Adult (Rarotonga 2)

Head and mouth

Pukapuka Loto (?ID)

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Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Pacific Shortfin Eel ^EN Polynesian Shortfin Eel^EN

Pacific Names

No Pacific Names

Local Names

Tuna Māori^RR Tuna^MG,AT,MK,AK Tuna Matakā^AT ‘Itiki^MT Tuna Talinga^TNs Tuna Taringa^TNw Tuna Wenua^PK

National Name: Tuna Māori ^RR

Island	Status	Main name
National name	RR	Tuna Māori
Rarotonga	++++	Tuna Māori
Mangaia	P	Tuna
Ātiu	P	Tuna / Tuna Matakā
Ma‘uke		Tuna
Miti‘āro	++++	‘Itiki
Aitutaki	++	Tuna
Palmerston		?P,?N
Tongareva-write		Tuna Taringa [ID?]
Tongareva-speak		Tuna Talinga [ID?]
Manihiki		?P,?N
Rakahanga		?P,?N
Pukapuka	+	Tuna Wenua
Nassau		?P,?N

National Distribution & Vouchers

National Presence:

Present

Oceanic

Absent

islands: [ , {label: 'Rarotonga', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 404.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 222, labelTop: 404} , {label: 'Mangaia', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 427.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 274, labelTop: 426} , {label: 'Ātiu', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 372.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 382} , {label: 'Ma‘uke', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 374.5, left: 282.5, labelLeft: 284, labelTop: 385} , {label: 'Miti‘āro', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 358.5, left: 274.5, labelLeft: 283, labelTop: 351} , {label: 'Aitutaki', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 334.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 209, labelTop: 321} , {label: 'Palmerston', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 309.5, left: 112.5, labelLeft: 124, labelTop: 309} , {label: 'Manuae', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 346.5, left: 234.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 338} , {label: 'Takūtea', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 362.5, left: 254.5, labelLeft: 211, labelTop: 363} , {label: 'Tongareva', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 32.5, left: 260.5, labelLeft: 205, labelTop: 31} , {label: 'Manihiki', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 80.5, left: 175.5, labelLeft: 187, labelTop: 80} , {label: 'Rakahanga', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 63.5, left: 173.5, labelLeft: 186, labelTop: 63} , {label: 'Pukapuka', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 88.5, left: 33.5, labelLeft: 45, labelTop: 88} , {label: 'Nassau', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 108.5, left: 46.5, labelLeft: 59, labelTop: 108} , {label: 'Suwarrow', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 162.5, left: 115.5, labelLeft: 127, labelTop: 162} ] , legend: [{label: 'Not Assessed', top: 235, stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#ffffff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: 'Present', top: 250, stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Present', top: 265, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GWR', tris: '#ACACAC', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Absent', top: 280, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Absent', top: 295, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RWR', tris: '#c0c0c0', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Intercepted', top: 312, stroke: '#990000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RDR', tris: '#000000', trif: '#000000'}, {label: 'Extirpated/Extinct', top: 331, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'RGR', tris: '#660000', trif: '#CC0000'} ]

Island	Status
Rarotonga	++++
Mangaia	Present
Ātiu	Present
Ma‘uke
Miti‘āro	++++
Aitutaki	++
Palmerston
Manuae
Takūtea
Tongareva
Manihiki
Rakahanga
Pukapuka	+
Nassau
Suwarrow

Note: S.Group - common; N.Group - rare

Vouchers for:
Anguilla obscura

Cook Islands

Southern

Northern

Oceanic

Rarotonga _____ 1991 1cs specimen 95 specimen 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.

Mangaia

Ātiu _____ 1053 1cs specimen 2 specimen Vaine Moeroa Koronui lake cave 6/91 643mm & 1053mm ID G.McCormack.

Ma‘uke

Miti‘āro _____ 1991 9uc not classified Jellyman 1991, Pac. Sci. 45(4):362-373.

Aitutaki

Palmerston

Manuae

Takūtea

Tongareva

Manihiki

Rakahanga

Pukapuka _____ 2004 2fsP fieldspecimen+photo 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.

Nassau

Suwarrow

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

no data available

Threatened

no data available

Invasive/Pest Status

no data available

Biosecurity

Medicinal

no data available

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.05.04 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Pacific Names

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

Accepted Name

Synonyms

National Distribution & Vouchers

Vouchers for:
Anguilla obscura

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

Threatened

Invasive/Pest Status

Biosecurity

Medicinal

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

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Cook Islands Status Summary

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Accepted Name

Synonyms

Vouchers for: Anguilla obscura

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Vouchers for:
Anguilla obscura