European eel (Anguilla anguilla) fish species and information / pictures of European eel - Anguilla anguilla

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) fish species information

Scientific Name
Anguilla anguilla

Common Name
European eel

Biology
Inhabits all types of benthic habitats from streams to shores of large rivers and lakes. Naturally found only in water bodies connected to sea (Ref. 59043). Amphihaline species (Ref. 51442), which migrates to the depths of the Sargasso Sea to spawn (Ref. 172, 51442). Spawning takes place in late winter and spring in the Sargasso Sea (Ref. 35112). Spawning area is reported to be about 2000 km wide (Ref. 59043). The leptocephalus larvae are brought to the coasts of Europe by the Gulf Stream in 7 to 11 months time (Ref. 51442) and can last for up to 3 years (Ref. 8994). They are transformed into elvers (small eels), enter the estuaries and colonize the continental waters (Refs. 51442; 11941). Young eels spend their growing period in freshwater, males for 6-12 years (30-40 cm TL, Ref. 6125), females for 9-20 years (55-65 cm TL, Ref. 6125), before ending their

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Freshwater eels (Anguillidae)

Distribution

Region

Atlantic Ocean

Distribution

Atlantic Ocean: Atlantic coast from Scandinavia to Morocco and rivers of North Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean seas (Ref. 172, Ref. 51442). Continuous introductions to Asia and South and Central America, but not reproducing. Spawning area in western Atlantic (Sargasso Sea). Also distributed along the coast of Europe from the Black Sea to the White Sea. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction. Recent genomic DNA studies show that the European eel exhibits isolation by distance, implying that non-random mating and restricted gene flow among eels from different location exists (Ref. 43723).

Range

75°N - 8°N, 82°W - 45°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

4 °C

Water Temperature To

20 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

700 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 700 m (Ref. 54218)

Trophic Level

3.53 s.e. 0.57 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

133 cm

Common Length

50 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.1; tm=6-30; tmax=85(?))

Threat To Humans

Unknown

IUCN Red List Status

Critically Endangered (CR) (A2bd+4bd)