The Five-eyed Spiny Eel is a freshwater fish native to Sri Lanka, found mainly in rivers, streams, marshes, and other slow-moving freshwater habitats. It prefers areas with soft muddy or sandy bottoms, submerged vegetation, and plenty of hiding places where it can burrow and remain concealed. Despite its eel-like appearance, it is not a true eel but belongs to the spiny eel family. This nocturnal and secretive fish has an elongated body with a series of small spines along its back, which help protect it from predators. It spends much of the day hidden in the substrate or among aquatic plants and becomes active at night when searching for food. Its diet consists of small fish, aquatic insects, insect larvae, worms, and tiny crustaceans. The Five-eyed Spiny Eel is an important part of Sri Lanka’s freshwater biodiversity, contributing as a small predator within aquatic ecosystems. Its dependence on clean, natural freshwater habitats makes it vulnerable to habitat destruction, pollution, and changes in river and wetland environments.