Country Species Summary

Anguilla anguilla in Kenya
European eel

Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family:	Anguillidae (Freshwater eels)	picture (Anang_u1.jpg) by Zienert, S.
Order:	Anguilliformes (eels and morays)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	European eel
Max. size:	133 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 6,599 g (Ref. 39903); max. published weight: 2,850.0 g; max. reported age: 88 years
Environment:	demersal; catadromous ; depth range 0 - 700 m
Climate:	temperate; 4 - 20°C; 75°N - 8°N
Global Importance:	fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Resilience:	Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.1; tm=6-30; tmax=85(?))
Distribution:	Atlantic Ocean: Atlantic coast from Scandinavia to Morocco and rivers of North Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean seas (Ref. 172, Ref. 51442). Continuous introductions to Asia and South and Central America, but not reproducing. Spawning area in western Atlantic (Sargasso Sea). Also distributed along the coast of Europe from the Black Sea to the White Sea. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction. Recent genomic DNA studies show that the European eel exhibits isolation by distance, implying that non-random mating and restricted gene flow among eels from different location exists (Ref. 43723).
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Vertebrae: 110-120. Elongated, anguilliform body (Ref. 51442), cylindrical anteriorly, somewhat compressed posteriorly (Ref. 6125). Lower jaw slightly longer and projecting (Ref. 6125, Ref. 51442). Gill openings small and vertical, restricted to the sides (Ref. 6125). Elongated dorsal and anal fins, confluent with caudal fin (Ref. 6125, Ref. 51442), forming one unique fin from the anus to the middle of the back with minimum 500 soft rays (Ref. 40476). Dorsal fin origin far behind pectoral fins; anal fin origin slightly behind anus, well back from origin of dorsal fin (Ref. 6125). Pelvic fins absent (Ref. 2196, Ref. 51442). Greenbrown colored (Ref. 51442).
Biology:	Amphihaline species (Ref. 51442), which migrates to the depths of the Sargasso Sea to spawn (Ref. 172, 51442). Spawning takes place in late winter and spring in the Sargasso Sea (Ref. 35112). The leptocephalus larvae are brought to the coasts of Europe by the Gulf Stream in 7 to 11 months time (Ref. 51442) and can last for up to 3 years (Ref. 8994). They are transformed into elvers (small eels), enter the estuaries and colonize the continental waters (Refs. 51442; 11941). Young eels spend their growing period in freshwater, males for 6-12 years (30-40 cm TL, Ref. 6125), females for 9-20 years (55-65 cm TL, Ref. 6125), before ending their metamorphosis (Ref. 172, 51442). At the end of their growth period, they become sexually mature and the eels migrate to the sea where they inhabit deep waters. Recapture positions of tagged specimens in the Baltic Sea suggested unidirectional movements at a speed of about 16 km/day towards the southwestern Baltic Sea, close to the straits leading to the ocean; the recorded movements thus seem related to the eel's spawning migratory behaviour (Ref. 81781). Adults do not feed during migration to sea. Gametogenesis occurs entirely during migration towards the Sargasso Sea. It occurs at temperatures ranging from 0-30°C. Is an individualist in all its stages. The 'schools' of elvers and young eels which are observed from time to time in estuaries and rivers are a mass response to outward conditions and not of active assembling. Its food includes virtually the whole aquatic fauna (freshwater as well as marine) occurring in the eel's area, augmented with animals living out of water, e.g. worms (Ref. 172). At an age of 6-30 years, eels begin to undergo a remarkable series of changes, eyes are enlarged, head becomes pointed, skin on the back darker, while that on the belly becomes shiny and silvery. Best temperature for making eels sexually mature is 20-25°C (Ref. 35388). Recent genomic DNA studies show that the European eel exhibits isolation by distance, implying that non-random mating and restricted gene flow among eels from different location exists (Ref. 43723). Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; can be fried, boiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Obvious decreasing of the stocks for all the continental native distribution area. Vulnerable (Ref. 40476). When introduced in California and Israel, potential impact on ecosystem has been suggested to take place, see introduction cases (resp. Ref. 10758 and Ref. 37616). They live on the bottom, under stones, in the mud or in crevices.Their high fat content and benthic feeding habits in continental waters make them vulnerable to the bioaccumulation of pollutants, such as heavy metals and organic contaminants, that may result in organ damage and impaired migration capability (Ref. 82710) and lowered genetic variabillity (Refs. 82711). Review of information supports the view that the European eel population as a whole has declined in most areas, the stock outside safe biological limits and current fisheries unsustainable (Ref. 82712)
Threatened:	Critically Endangered, see IUCN Red List (A2bd+4bd) , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:
Coordinator:
Main Ref:	Deelder, C.L.. 1984. (Ref. 172)
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Kenya country information
Common names:	European eel	Ref: Seegers, L., L. De Vos and D.O. Okeyo, 2003
Status:	introduced	Ref:
Salinity:	freshwater
Aquaculture:		Ref:
Uses:	live export:
Comments:	Known from Lake Victoria (Ref. 52331); introduced in the catchment - escaped from fish farms in Uganda, normally not reproducing and thus expected not to survive in the wild (Ref. 52331).
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ke.html
National Fisheries Authority:	www.recoscix.org/openscrn.htm
Occurrences:	Occurrences Point map
Main Ref:	Seegers, L., L. De Vos and D.O. Okeyo, 2003
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Entered: Boden, Gert

CGNET - US

Page created by: Eli, 20.10.03, last modified by Eli, 26.06.07

	Ref.:		Glossary
		(e.g. 9948)		(e.g. cephalopods)
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