How does it look?

The European eel outwardly resembles a snake. It is usually 60-80 cm long and rarely exceeds 1 meter, but in exceptional cases, it can reach a length of 1.5 meters. Eel's body is covered in small, fine, and soft scales. It has a large, slender head and a mouth with small teeth that are pointed forward. Its dorsal fin, which starts far behind the small pectoral fins, continuously merges in a straight line with the anal fin at the slender tail's end.

Where does it live?

In Latvia, the European eel enters inland waters connected to the sea. From 1927 to 1989, it was introduced into more than 80 lakes and many other water bodies. During the day, it may bury itself in the sand or hide under stones or roots. It is more active during the night. In winter, it is less active and usually burrows into the sand.

What does it eat?

Main food sources for the European eel include benthos (a community of organisms living on the bottom or surface of bodies of water), fish, and roaches.

Interesting and important facts

Eels do not reproduce in captivity and can live a long life. However, they are considered a vulnerable species, and their population is critically low today. Intensive fishing, various parasites, and dam constructions hindering their migration pose significant threats to the survival of the species.

Conservation efforts are essential to protect and restore the European eel population. For centuries, the life cycle of the eel remained a mystery, and scientists had no explanation for how eels reproduce. When reaching maturity, eels migrate to the Atlantic Ocean, specifically the Sargasso Sea. Larvae, transported by the Gulf Stream, take 1.5-3 years to reach the coasts of Europe.

Unfortunately, many of these newly hatched individuals perish after reaching the coast. The complex migration and reproduction patterns of eels continue to fascinate and challenge scientific understanding.

Information sources: Wikipedia

Image author: Anastasija Ovsepjana