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Monday, 12 October 2015

Not botanical at all.

We spent a rather relaxed morning this weekend wandering about the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.

While it's a great place to see plants (what a revelation!) it also has some other 'wilder' wildlife.  And the ones we had come to see were the Short-finned Eels that live in one of the ponds.  The gardens were built on wetlands associated with the Yarra - that's Melbourne's river - and the eels never moved out as the exotic plants moved in.

These eels can grow to more than a meter in length - although I don't think this one was a little bit shorter than that.  They may not be everybody's idea looking fish - but they are more than a little different!




You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM
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20 comments:

  1. Author R. Mac Wheeler12 October 2015 at 22:40

    very cool

    I wonder why N America has no eels. Not fair. They're cool looking.

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  2. Yamini MacLean12 October 2015 at 23:21

    Hari OM
    ...makes a change from carp!!! YAM xx

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  3. Fun6013 October 2015 at 00:08

    They look much more attractive than the ones found in the River Thames although to be fair I have only seem them wriggling whilst caught in the beaks of herons.

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  4. eileeninmd13 October 2015 at 00:53

    Hello Stewart, neat captures of the eel. I am sure they are slippery creatures. Have a happy new week!

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  5. John @ Beans and I on the Loose13 October 2015 at 02:19

    Interesting looking fellow. Some people eat them I guess. I wouldn't.

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  6. Anonymous13 October 2015 at 03:11

    That's a big eel. We get eels in our lake too.

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  7. Rhodesia13 October 2015 at 03:14

    Interesting photos and certainly a bit different. Have a good week Diane

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  8. Sylvia K13 October 2015 at 03:22

    Great photos they are and a new fellow for me!! I've never seen eels here in the US except at a zoo/aquarium!! Hope your week is off to a great start, Stewart!! Enjoy!!

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  9. This N That13 October 2015 at 03:22

    Ewwwww..Wouldn't want that guy wrapped around my ankles...Good shots though!!

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  10. Bas.13 October 2015 at 04:58

    heel mooi,wat is hij groot.

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  11. Linda W.13 October 2015 at 06:10

    Great shots of the eels!

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  12. TexWisGirl13 October 2015 at 07:41

    so very cool!

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  13. Brian King13 October 2015 at 10:19

    Very cool! Kinda looks like a snake with fins.

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  14. Lea13 October 2015 at 11:29

    I think we do have eels in North America - along the east coast of the United States - but I've never seen one myself.
    Great photos!

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  15. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 October 2015 at 18:49

    Not easy shots to get of them in the water so you did well.

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  16. A Colorful World14 October 2015 at 01:53

    Fascinating! I've never seen an eel!

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  17. amanda15 October 2015 at 14:31

    They are fascinating, I'll give them that!
    I don't believe I've ever seen an eel in person, but have seen sea lamprey out of Lake Superior that were somewhat similar. I like the eel much better. :)

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  18. Sallie (FullTime-Life)17 October 2015 at 07:16

    I bet your kids loved them! So prehistoric looking.

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  19. Marilyn Kircus18 October 2015 at 01:17

    Very interesting and especially since they got to remain.

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  20. Unknown18 October 2015 at 17:59

    Interesting critter! They've become very rare around here.

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