Species · GBIF taxon 5212973
European Eel
Anguilla anguillaAlso known as Common Eel, Silver Eel, Yellow Eel, Glass Eel
European eels undertake an extraordinary 6,000-kilometer migration from European rivers to spawn in the Sargasso Sea, a journey from which adults never return. They morph through five distinct life stages, transforming from leaf-like marine larvae into transparent glass eels, pigmented elvers, yellow river residents, and finally metallic silver eels. Their survival relies on a complex network of healthy marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitats across two continents.
CatadromousMigratoryNocturnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Invertebrates
- Crustaceans
- Small Fish
Predators
- Otters
- Cormorants
- Northern Pike
ThreatsHydroelectric dams, overfishing, water pollution, and swimbladder parasites
HabitatsFreshwater rivers, lakes, estuaries, and the open ocean
Life spanTypically 15 to 30 years in the wild, but can exceed 80 years in captivity
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAnguillidae
- SpeciesAnguilla anguilla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognize them by their elongated, snake-like bodies and continuous fin running along the back and tail.
- Support conservation
- Never harvest wild eels, and advocate for fish-passage channels around local dams and weirs.
Responsible observation
- Night Watching: Look for yellow eels hunting along riverbanks after dusk using a red-filtered flashlight.
- Report Sightings: Document encounters with local conservation groups to help map migration barriers.
- Avoid Handling: Keep handling to a minimum to protect their delicate, protective mucus layer.
Frequent Companion 
Close Relative USFWS / CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
Marine Relative Matthieu Sontag / CC BY 3.0 · CC BY 3.0
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