European eel

European Eel

Édouard Manet's painting featuring an eel

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a species of eel found in the northern hemisphere. It is a catadromous fish, meaning it lives in freshwater but migrates to the sea to spawn. The European eel is a critically endangered species, facing threats from overfishing, habitat loss, and barriers to migration.

Description

The European eel has a long, snake-like body with a smooth, slimy skin. It is typically dark brown to olive in color, with a lighter underside. Adult eels can grow up to 1.5 meters in length, although most are smaller. They have a distinctive dorsal fin that runs along the back, merging with the caudal and anal fins.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of the European eel is complex and involves several stages:

• Leptocephalus Stage: The larvae, known as leptocephali, are transparent and leaf-shaped. They drift with ocean currents from their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea to the coasts of Europe.

• Glass Eel Stage: Upon reaching the continental shelf, the leptocephali transform into glass eels, which are small, transparent juvenile eels.

• Elver Stage: As they enter freshwater, glass eels become pigmented and are known as elvers. They migrate upstream into rivers and lakes.

• Yellow Eel Stage: In freshwater, eels grow and mature into yellow eels, which can live for many years.

• Silver Eel Stage: Mature eels undergo physiological changes to become silver eels, preparing for their migration back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.

Habitat

European eels inhabit a wide range of freshwater and brackish environments, including rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters. They are highly adaptable and can be found in diverse habitats across Europe and North Africa.

Conservation

The European eel is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration, removal of migration barriers, and sustainable management of eel fisheries. International cooperation is essential to protect this species throughout its range.

Related Pages

• Eel
• Sargasso Sea
• Catadromous fish