Abstract
Fishes belonging to order Anguiliformes includes eels are represented by many species in Pakistan, however, there is no comprehensive account of all the known species of the area. Present study reports details of eels occurring in Pakistan based on published literature as well as through the collection of specimens from various parts of Pakistan. A total of 45species belonging to 8 families of this order were reported from Pakistan. Three species belonging to family Congridae i.e. Ariosoma gnanadossi Talwar & Mukherjee 1977, Bathymyrus echinorhynchus Alcock, 1889a and Rhynchoconger squaliceps (Alcock 1894); 4 species belonging to family Muraenidae i.e. Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw, 1795), G. phasmatodes (Smith, 1962), Gymnothorax prolatus Sasaki & Amaoka, 1991 and G. reticularis Bloch, 1795 andone species belonging to family Muraneosocidae Gavialiceps arabicus (D'Ancona, 1928) are reported for the first time from Pakistan. Previous records of occurrence of two species in Pakistan i.e. Conger conger (Linnaeus, 1758) and Muraena helena Linnaeus, 1758 are possibly based on misidentification, therefore, their presence in Pakistan is considered to be doubtful. Muranidae is considered to be most diversified family occurring in Pakistan consisting of 17 species followed by family Congridae is represented by 6 and Ophichthidae represented by 7 species. Family Synaphobranchidaeis least diversified represented by only one species.
