Asian swamp eel
Refers to the species Monopterus albus, a freshwater eel-like fish found in East and Southeast Asia.
Asian swamp eels inhabit rice paddies and wetlands.
Katakana spelling is common for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
The name combines 田 (ta, 'rice field') and 鰻 (unagi, 'eel'), describing its habitat and eel-like appearance. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.