A Female Eel

Collected by Richard Harbison and Russell Reichelt from the people of the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. This string figure most likely represents the Highlands Long-finned Eel (Anguilla interioris). Freshwater eels inhabit rivers but return to the ocean to spawn.

<Full-length video in Windows Media Player>

Step-by-Step Video Clips		Written Instructions
1  2  3  4  5  all © 2010 ISFA. All rights reserved.		Step 5 - Many eels are shy and quickly vanish when predators approach. To make the eel vanish, use 1 to pick up the string that runs from the palmar knot to 2n, then release the loops from 2 and 5 and extend sharply.