Spiny eels, not true eels?

[Francis]

I was reading something about peacock eels and it said that spiny eels were not true eels, what?

Thanks,

Francis.

 

[SirMinion]

Absolutely correct.

Spiny eels of the family MASTACEMBELIDAE are divided into four genera Aethiomastacembelus and Afromastacembelus (African) and Macrognathus and Mastacembelus (Asian) and include commonly found species such as peacock spiney eels, fire eels and tire-track eels.
They are eel-shaped true fish and not eels at all. They belong to the order Synbranchiformes along with other eel-like fish such as swamp (tulip) eels.
True eels belong to the family Anguillidae and are so seperate from other fishes and eel like fishes that they even have their own order : Anguilliformes

Further reading available here:

Anguilliformes (true eels & morays)

Synbranchiformes (eel-like fish)

 

[Francis]

Ok thanks.