Eel
D-Aal, Flussaal, Gelbaal, Blankaal; GB-Eel, common eel, european eel; DK-Ål; PL-Węgorz europejski; LT-Ungurys; LV-Zutis; EST-Angerjas; RU-Речной угорь; FIN-Ankerias; S-Europeisk ål
Characters
1) superior mouth (lower jaw turned up and overtopping the maxilla).
2) dorsal fin begins well behind the end of the pectoral fin.
●) form of head is variable: either pointed or wide; colour ranges from light grey to dark grey and yellow, abdomen lighter.
Often 30 to 50 cm, max. up to 130 cm length.
Similar species
Conger - mouth inferior; dorsal fin starts approximately at the level where the pectoral fin ends.
Sea lamprey - seven external gill slits; no pectoral fins.
River lamprey - seven external gill slits; no pectoral fins.
Biology
Adults ready for spawning migrate downstream to the Sea and move over 5.000 km to the Sargasso Sea. They reproduce only once in their life and die afterwards. The larvae drift back to Europe along the Golf Stream; young eels migrate upstream into rivers and estuaries and there they grow up.Diet
They feed on all kinds of bottom living organisms, fish fry, fish and carion.Importance
Of high commercial importance as food fish.Endangerment
Due to commercial use, slow reproduction rate and river obstructions, which strongly impair the spawning run, the eel ist highly endangered. The eel can not be bred in captivity.Anguilla anguillla
