Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758)

European eel

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Anguilliformes \| Anguillidae
Synonyms	Muraena anguilla, Anguilla acutirostris, Anguilla aegyptiaca, ... more
Common names	Anguille d'Europe, Anguila europea, Common eel, ... more

You can sponsor this page

Upload your photos and videos
| All pictures | Google image | Stamps |

Image of Anguilla anguilla (European eel)

Picture by Zienert, S.

Play video

Add your observation in Fish Watcher

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Deelder, C.L. 1984. (Ref. 172)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 133 cm TL (female); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6125); common length :50 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 6,599 g (Ref. 39903); max. published weight: 2,850.0 g; max. reported age: 88 years (Ref. 72468)

Environment

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

Climate / Range

Temperate; 4°C - 20°C (Ref. 2059); 75°N - 8°N, 82°W - 45°E

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).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Vertebrae: 110 - 120. Elongated, anguilliform body (Ref. 51442), cylindrical anteriorly, somewhat compressed posteriorly (Ref. 6125). Lower jaw slightly longer and projecting (Ref. 6125, Ref. 51442). Gill openings small and vertical, restricted to the sides (Ref. 6125). Elongated dorsal and anal fins, confluent with caudal fin (Ref. 6125, Ref. 51442), forming one unique fin from the anus to the middle of the back with minimum 500 soft rays (Ref. 40476). Dorsal fin origin far behind pectoral fins; anal fin origin slightly behind anus, well back from origin of dorsal fin (Ref. 6125). Pelvic fins absent (Ref. 2196, Ref. 51442). Greenbrown colored (Ref. 51442).

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). 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, enter the estuaries and colonize the continental waters (Ref. 51442). They evolve into small eels before moving into freshwater basins (Ref. 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 metamorphosis (Ref. 172, 51442). At the end of their growth period, they become sexually mature and the eels migrate to the sea where they inhabit deep waters. Recapture positions of tagged specimens in the Baltic Sea suggested unidirectional movements at a speed of about 16 km/day towards the southwestern Baltic Sea, close to the straits leading to the ocean; the recorded movements thus seem related to the eel's spawning migratory behaviour (Ref. 81781). Adults do not feed during migration to sea. Gametogenesis occurs entirely during migration towards the Sargasso Sea. It occurs at temperatures ranging from 0-30°C. Is an individualist in all its stages. The 'schools' of elvers and young eels which are observed from time to time in estuaries and rivers are a mass response to outward conditions and not of active assembling. Its food includes virtually the whole aquatic fauna (freshwater as well as marine) occurring in the eel's area, augmented with animals living out of water, e.g. worms (Ref. 172). At an age of 6-30 years, eels begin to undergo a remarkable series of changes, eyes are enlarged, head becomes pointed, skin on the back darker, while that on the belly becomes shiny and silvery. Best temperature for making eels sexually mature is 20-25°C (Ref. 35388). 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). Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; can be fried, boiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Obvious decreasing of the stocks for all the continental native distribution area. Vulnerable (Ref. 40476), but when introduced in California and Israel, potential impact on ecosystem has been suggested to take place, see introduction cases (resp. Ref. 10758 and Ref. 37616). They live on the bottom, under stones, in the mud or in crevices.


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2bd+4bd)

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| Bio-Quiz \| E-book \| Field guide \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
Check for Aquarium maintenance \| Check for Species Fact Sheets \| Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

Download XML
Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

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


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Froese, Rainer

Modified by Bailly, Nicolas

Back to Search

Fish Forum

Comments & Corrections

Sign our Guest Book

FishBase mirror site : Paris, France

Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

Custom Search