- American eel
Taxobox
name = American eel
image_width = 200px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Actinopterygii
superordo =Elopomorpha
ordo =Anguilliformes
familia =Anguillidae
genus = "Anguilla"
species = "A. rostrata"
range_
range_map_caption=Range map
binomial = "Anguilla rostrata"
binomial_authority =Le Sueur , 1821The American eel, "Anguilla rostrata", is a
catadromous fish found on the eastern coast ofNorth America . It has asnake -like body with a small sharp pointed head. It is brown on top and a tan-yellow color on the bottom. It has sharp pointed teeth but nopelvic fin s. It is very similar to theEuropean eel , but the two species differ in number ofchromosome s andvertebra e.The
female American eel spawns insalt water , and it takes 9 to 10 weeks for the eggs to hatch. After hatching, young eels move toward North America and enter freshwater systems to mature. The female can lay up to 4 millionbuoyant eggs a year, but dies after egg-laying.The eel likes
fresh water , and is found around the Atlantic coast includingChesapeake Bay and theHudson River . It prefers to hunt at night, and during the day it hides in mud, sand or gravel.American eels are economically very important to the East Coast and rivers where they travel. They are caught by fishermen and sold, eaten, or kept as pets. Eels help the Atlantic coast
ecosystem by eating dead fish,invertebrate s,carrion and insects. If hungry enough, it will even eat its own family.Although many anglers are put off by the snake-like appearance of these catadromous fish, eels are in fact exceptionally good fish. They are usually caught by anglers fishing for something else. The world record weight for the American eel is 9.25 pounds.
Gallery
References
*
*alloee also
Eel life history External links
* [http://www.glooskapandthefrog.org/eel%20challenge.htm The American Eel, an Endangered Species?]
* [http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ameel/index.html ESA protection]
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