 Most freshwater eels are catadromous, that means they live in freshwater and migrate downstream to spawn in the ocean. Young eels live in the ocean or in estuaries until they are around a year old. One-year-old eels are called elvers. Elvers return to rivers to grow to adulthood.
The American eel is the only native freshwater eel found in North America. American eels are found in rivers in the eastern United States. Every winter mature American eels migrate to the
Sargasso Sea near Bermuda to spawn. The adults probably die after spawning. Most American eel elvers return to inland rivers when they are a year old. Females may travel well inland; males usually stay near river mouths or in estuaries. Just recently scientists discovered that not all American eel elvers return to freshwater to mature. Some stay in marine or estuarine habitats. American eels are now described as displaying facultative catadromy. That means they can be found in freshwater or saltwater during maturation.
American eels can be as much as 15 years old when they spawn. Female American eels can grow to be 4 feet long; males are around 1.5 feet long.
World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in Wild  Extinct  Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.
U.S. Status Key
 Threatened in US  Endangered in US  Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile. |
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New Hampshire Status Key
 Threatened in NH  Endangered in NH  Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game
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Location Key
 Africa  Asia  Australia/Oceania  Europe  North America  South America  NH  Click for More Info  Click for Image
Additional Information Resource Key
 Profile  Photos  Video  Audio
American Eel - Anguilla rostrata
The American eel spawns in the Atlantic Ocean and moves into streams and rivers in North and South America.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
American Eel - Anguilla rostrata
The American eel is found from Greenland to Brazil.
Source: US Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
American Eel - Anguilla rostrata
The American eel larvae spends up to a year in the ocean, drifting in the ocean currents.
Source: North American Native Fishes Association Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
European Eel - Anguilla anguilla
The European eel is found on the floor of the ocean or river in which it is living.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Indonesian Shortfin Eel - Anguilla bicolor
Indonesian shortfin eels live in fresh water areas as an adult and in estuaries and seas as young
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Japanese Eel - Anguilla japonica
Japanese eels may crawl over land at night from one place to another.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Marbled Eel - Anguilla marmorata
Marbled eels have well developed and fleshy lips.
Source: USGS Non indigenous Aquatic Species Database Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pacific Shortfin Eel - Anguilla obscura
The Pacific shortfin eel is found from western New Guinea and Queensland, Australia to the Society Islands.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Polynesian Longfin Eel - Anguilla megastoma
The Polynesian longfin eel is found in rocky pools, often in coastal streams.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Short-finned Eel - Anguilla australis
Short-finned eels are found in streams, lakes, and swamps.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Indian Mottled Eel - Anguilla bengalensis
The Indian mottled eel is found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma, Bangladesh, and the East Indies.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Mottled Eel - Anguilla nebulosa
The mottled eel is found from East Africa to Indonesia.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Indonesian Longfin Eel - Anguilla borneensis
Indonesian longfin eels are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Celebes Longfin Eel - Anguilla celebesensis
Celebes longfin eels are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Highlands Long-finned Eel - Anguilla interioris
Highland longfin eels are found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
African Longfin Eel - Anguilla mossambica
African longfin eels are found in rivers on the east coast of Africa and on Madagascar. They can be found well inland.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Philippine Mottled Eel - Anguilla luzonensis
Philippine mottled eels are found in the Philippines.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
New Zealand Longfin Eel - Anguilla dieffenbachii
The New Zealand longfin eel is found in lakes and rivers in New Zealand.
Source: Fish Base Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School |
