Eel

Eels are elongated ray-finned fish in the order Anguilliformes, which includes about 1,000 species across many families.

Eels are elongated ray-finned fish in the order Anguilliformes, encompassing about 1,000 species found in marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitats. Many species have complex life cycles that include an oceanic larval phase and long migrations.

What it is

Eels are a diverse group of fish, not a single species. They have long, slender, snake-like bodies and often reduced pelvic fins. The order Anguilliformes includes families such as Anguillidae (freshwater eels), Congridae (conger eels), and Muraenidae (moray eels).

Key details

Most eels begin life as leaf-shaped leptocephalus larvae in the open ocean, then metamorphose into juveniles. Many are catadromous: they live in freshwater but migrate to the sea to spawn. Eels are generally carnivorous, feeding on smaller fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates.

Why it matters

Eels play important ecological roles as both predators and prey. In Canada, the American eel is found in the St. Lawrence River system and Atlantic coastal waters. Canadian fisheries and conservation programs monitor eel populations due to their ecological and cultural significance.