Eel

For other uses, see Eel (disambiguation).

True eels
American eel, Anguilla rostrata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Suborders
Anguilloidei Nemichthyoidei Congroidei Synaphobranchoidei See text for families.

True eels are fish of the order Anguilliformes that consists of 4 suborders, 19 families, 110 genera and 400 species. Depending on their species, they can reach from 10 cm to 3 m, and weigh up to 65 kg. The number of rays of the gill webbing ranges from 6 to 51, though sometimes they are absent altogether. Their fins are always spineless. The back and anal fins are long, usually connecting with the tail fin. The belly and chest fins are absent. The shoulder girdle is separate from the skull. The scales are cycloid or absent.

The flat and transparent larva of the eel is called a leptocephalus. A young eel is called an elver.

Most eels prefer to dwell in shallow waters, hide at the bottom layer of the ocean, sometimes in holes. Only the Anguillidae family comes to fresh water to dwell there (not to breed). Some eels dwell in deep water (in case of family Synaphobranchidae, this comes to a depth of 4,000 m), or are active swimmers (the family Nemichthyidae - to the depth of 500 m).

Most eels are predators.

Freshwater eels (unagi) and marine eels (Conger eel, anago) are commonly used in Japanese cuisine. Eels are used in Cantonese and Shanghai cuisine too. The European eel and other freshwater eels are eaten in Europe, the United States, and other places around the world. A traditional London food is jellied eels. The Basque delicacy, angulas, consists of deep-fried elvers.[1]

Trivia

Uniquely in Europe, hand netting is the only legal way of catching eels in England, and has been practiced for thousands of years on the River Parrett and River Severn.

Eel skins are used in some wallets and purses.

There is a myth that wallets made out of Electric eels will demagnitize your credit cards. This is not true.

In recent years, some cryptozoologists have theorised that the Loch Ness Monster might be a giant eel.

Classification

Juvenile American eels

File:FH000014.jpg

Garden eels

Suborder Anguilloidei

• Anguillidae (freshwater eels)
• Heterenchelyidae
• Moringuidae (worm eels)
• Xenocongridae (false morays)
• Muraenidae (moray eels)
• Myrocongridae

Suborder Nemichthyoidei

• Nemichthyidae (snipe eels)
• Serrivomeridae (sawtooth snipe eels)
• Cyemidae (bobtail snipe eels)

Suborder Congroidei

• Congridae (congers)
• Muraenesocidae (conger pikes)
• Nettastomatidae (witch eels)
• Nessorhamphidae (duckbilled eels)
• Derichthyidae (neck eels)
• Ophichthidae (snake eels)
• Macrocephenchelyidae

Suborder Synaphobranchoidei

• Synaphobranchidae (cutthroat eels)
• Simenchelyidae (parasitic eels)
• Dysommidae

See also

• Eel life history
• Eel ladder
• American eel
• Conger eel
• European eel
• Garden eel
• Moray eel
• Short-finned eel
• Oily fish

References

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Order Anguilliformes". FishBase. November 2005 version.