American Eel
Anguilla rostrataAlso known as Atlantic Eel, Silver Eel, Yellow Eel, Common Eel
American eels lead one of nature's most extraordinary lives, migrating thousands of miles from freshwater rivers across eastern North America to spawn in the Sargasso Sea. Their snake-like bodies are coated in a thick mucus layer that protects them from parasites and allows them to travel over damp land to bypass obstacles. As they mature, they transform from transparent larvae into olive-green yellow eels, and finally into silver eels ready for their epic ocean voyage.
- diet
- Insects, crustaceans, bivalves, worms, and small fish
- family
- Anguillidae
- threats
- Dams and migration barriers, overfishing, water pollution, and climate change affecting ocean currents
- life Span
- 10 to 30 years
EN
Capable of delivering a strong bite if handled or caught; handle with care or observe from a distance.
Dams block over ninety percent of their historic freshwater habitat, and commercial harvesting of glass eels has severely depleted populations.
Avoid targeting them when fishing, and immediately release any accidental catches using barbless hooks and wet hands.- Watch at night: Use a red-light flashlight near riverbanks or docks after dark to spot them hunting.
- Support fish passage: Advocate for dam removals or eel ladders in local waterways to help their migration.
- Practice safe release: Use wet hands or a wet cloth if handling is necessary to protect their delicate slime coat.