| Family |
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Eels
Species (popular name): Eel
(scientific name): Anguilla anguilla (L)
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| Name in the main European languages |
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I: Anguilla
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F: Anguille
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E: Anguila
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D: Europäischer Aal | |
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| Max. size |
Kg:10
cm: 150 |
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| Period of reproduction |
| It probably begins in February |
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| Description |
| A medium-large size fish, it has a characteristic snake-shaped aspect; its name, in fact, derives from its shape: from the Latin anguis, snake. Its body is cylindrical, gradually more compressed towards the tail. The very long dorsal and anal fins meet at the tail; it has no ventral fins. Its head is quite long with a cone-shaped snout; in a few specimen the snout is large and flat. It has a large mouth, with a prominent lower jaw and a few lines of small cone-shaped teeth. Its overall colouring may vary according to the environment and its growth stage. It is generally dark on the back and white-yellowish on the stomach (Yellow eel). Its boy is entirely covered with a thick layer of mucus. |
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| Biology |
| An extraordinary migratory fish, it is widely spread all over the European continent. Its high adaptability allows it to live in any fresh and salt waters in our territory, from sea level to mountain streams, up to a 1,500 m height. Very tolerant even in case of low oxygen concentrations, in particular conditions it is able to resist out of water for a long time by absorbing oxygen through the skin (porous respiration). The biological reproduction of the eel is incredibly interesting, but not completely known. Sexual maturity begins after years living in freshwater: males after 4-10 years, females after 6-18 years and it corresponds to the beginning of the reproductive migration towards the sea. In this period the eel becomes dark-coloured on the back, silver on the stomach, while its eyes get much bigger (Argentine eel). It now begins to flow towards the sea, which will lead it to the typical reproduction area of this species, located in the Atlantic Ocean, near the Sargasso Sea. Here, at a depth of 400-500 m, in open waters but not on the bottom, the reproduction takes place by expulsing – they say – up to five millions eggs each female. After that reproducers certainly die. Eggs have a diameter of 1-3 mm; at a temperature of 17°C they hatch in about 24 hours and give birth to a maggot 4-5 mm long. This small transparent, "willow-shaped" maggot was denominated Leptocephalus by the first researchers, who considered it as a separate ichthyic species. Migration immediately begins, with the help of the Gulf Stream, which brings the Leptocephali towards the European coasts; after a travel of two or three years, they reach the maximum dimension of 8-9 cm. Here they undergo a metamorphosis that make them similar to adult eels: although remaining transparent, their body becomes cylindrical and shows the first signs of fins. Under this form, called elver or caeca, in the late winter they mill around the mouths of our rivers and go upstream in columns made of millions of specimen. In that moment, pushed by an irresistible instinct to go upstream, they are very easy to catch. The most part, however, reaches its ideal living environment, that is fresh or brackish waters, where elvers will pigment and grow rapidly. As a consequence of pollution in the river mouths, of the barrage and the alteration of riverbeds, quite worryingly less and less elvers manage to go up the rivers; it is therefore necessary to catch them at the moment of going upstream in order to repopulate rivers and lakes. The eel is a voracious night predator; relying on its highly-developed sense of smell, it haunts invertebrates, crustaceans, molluscs, worms and grubs, but also likes fishes and their eggs and other small aquatic vertebrates. During its reproductive migration, it completely stops feeding. |
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| Fishing |
| Its white and tender, fat and tasty flesh is very appreciated; it is therefore an important economical source. Eels are good preys for professional fishing, which is carried out through bottom nets, baskets and fyke nets, or also through long fishing lines provided with hundreds of hooks hanging shrimps or worms. In the Adriatic fishing valleys, eels are caught through the typical V-shaped traps, called lavorieri, at the moment of flowing towards the sea. |
| Acquaculture |
| It is important to mention that the original "semen", consisting of the small elvers, in any case depends on the natural collection. Italy is one of the leading European producers of eels. The national production in 2001 was around …… tons. |
| Curiosity |
| Eel blood is dangerous for man; its plasma, in fact, contains an ichthyiohemotoxin that may provoke dangerous intoxications if it comes in contact with our blood. Therefore pay attention to bruises or small cuts on your skin when you clean or prepare an eel: it is necessary to wear gloves. The toxin is in any case inactivated by cooking. |
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