Underrated animals: Short-finned eel

They can travel over land, climb walls and take down large prey. And that's all before the short-finned eel (Anguilla australis) makes it out into the ocean for their epic migration to mate.

The location is so remote, scientists still don't know what happens while they're there.

But then, as new baby eels, they need to swim thousands of kilometres back to the Australian mainland — and only one in every 10,000 hatchings make it.

Cast your vote for Australia's most underrated animal here:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-08-01/science-week-underrated-australian-animal-vote/105582104

Featuring:

• Dr Wayne Koster, Arthur Rylah Institute

Production:

• Ann Jones, Presenter / Producer
• Jacinta Bowler, Producer
• Rebecca McLaren, Producer
• Hamish Camilleri, Sound Engineer
• Petria Ladgrove, Executive Producer

Stream the brand-new series Dr Ann's Secret Lives on ABC iview.