European eel

From Free net encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 10:48, 4 April 2006
Stemonitis (Talk | contribs)
bypass redir., avoiding the Caribbean
Next diff →

Current revision

{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = European eel | image = Anguilla anguilla.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Actinopterygii | ordo = Anguilliformes | familia = Anguillidae | genus = Anguilla | species = A. anguilla | binomial = Anguilla anguilla | binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) }}

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla <ref>Template:ITIS</ref>, is a snake-like fish, which can reach in exceptional cases a length of 1½ m, but is normally much smaller, about 60-80 cm, and rarely more than 1 m. They are generally believed to spawn in the Sargasso Sea and the larvae (Leptocephalus) migrate towards Europe in a three-year-long migration. They enter fresh water, where they spend their lives. The slimy coating of the eel is thought to protect the fish against changes in salinity.

Since the 1970s, the numbers of eels reaching Europe is thought to have declined by around 90% (possibly even 98%). It is unclear whether this is part of a normal long term cycle, or whether this reflects a decline in eel numbers generally. Potential causes include overfishing, parasites such as Anguillicola crassus, river barriers such as hydroelectric plants, and natural changes in the North Atlantic oscillation, Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic drift. Recent work suggests that PCB pollution may be a major factor in the decline <ref>Template:Cite journal2</ref>.

Eels have been important sources of food both as adults (including the infamous jellied eels of East London) and as elvers. Elver fishing using basket traps has been of significant economic value in many river estuaries on the western sea-board of Europe.

[edit]