Is it an eel? Is it a snake? No, it’s a zangee!

amyzangee2

One of the weird and wonderful fish that we frequently encounter during BioTIME fieldwork is the eel-like ‘zangee’. Many Trinidadians are terrified of this mysterious creature which is referred to as a ‘water snake’ and rumoured to suck on your toes if you walk in the stream at night. We decided it was time to dispel some of the myths surrounding this species and to convince people that it is in fact a fascinating rather than a fearsome addition to the ecosystem, by publishing an article in the local paper. The article was written by myself and the president of the T&T Field Naturalists’ Club, Kris Sookdeo, and you can read it here.

amyzangee1

Dr Amy Deacon