Eels are among the most enigmatic of ocean creatures. Scientists have attempted to track them by planting hydroacoustic sensors and poring over satellite photos; moreover, European eels have been given hormone injections before they were sent out into the Sargasso Sea in order to increase chances of encountering each other there.
Eels are anadromous
Eels are anadromous fish, meaning they spend their early lives in the sea before migrating to freshwater to breed - similar to salmon and many trout species - but also like many other fish such as shad, alewife, and sturgeon.
Eels' mysterious migration has long baffled scientists. Now, thanks to satellite tagging technology, scientists can finally track them. Through this advancement they have discovered that eels make an incredible 3,000 mile journey from Sargasso Sea to Azores!
Eels have wormlike bodies covered with mucus to aid them in moving through rough sea terrain, while also being equipped with a mucous-secreting gland which protects them from bacteria. Eels also possess an acute sense of touch which allows them to detect vibrations in the water and locate food sources; their diet includes small fish, invertebrates, crustaceans, crayfish and snails - some species even cannibalise each other! Despite their fearsome reputations however, most eels can be domesticated.
Eels are nocturnal
Eels are aquatic creatures that lie dormant during the day and hunt by smell at night, hiding in crevices and riverbanks before coming alive by nightfall to hunt. Eels possess an extremely sensitive sense of smell with tube nostrils protruding from their heads above their upper lips; their mouths contain rows of sharp serrated teeth lined with rows of serrated teeth lining it's surface; unlike most fish species eels don't have scales either! Found across all oceans and as large bony fish; European conger conger is currently considered to be the largest among its species species eels (conger conger conger being the largest).
Marine biologists, anatomists and philosophers alike have long been baffled by the mysterious migrations of eels in open waters. With satellite tagging technology becoming advanced enough to use on them, however, secrets about these catadromous fish began to come out into the open.
Researchers tracked 26 female eels tagged near the Azores as they left their native habitats to head toward Sargasso Sea for their spawning journeys. Eggs and early-stage larvae (called leptocephali ) were collected in this same area from these same female eels; results demonstrated that leptocephali travel to different destinations than adult eels yet still follow similar routes to where their adult counterparts travel.
Eels are carnivorous
Eels are predatory fish with cannibalism potential, feeding on small fish, invertebrates and crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs and sea urchins - while some even consume insect larvae! Eels inhabit both freshwater and marine environments and their life cycle is catadromous - spending adulthood in freshwater rivers or streams before returning to their ocean birthplace to spawn.
On most days, sharks can be found hiding out in crevices, caves, reefs or underwater ledges during the day before swiftly poking their heads out to catch prey. With wide mouths equipped with sharp teeth meant for shredding flesh and knotted bodies that help push large prey closer towards their mouths - they make effective hunters indeed!
Most eels are shy creatures that prefer not interacting with humans, yet are popular tourist attractions among scuba divers in various locations. Eels generally attack humans only in self-defence or due to mistaken identity; they do not attack fellow scuba divers but they may injure them with their lightning-quick speed. Some species are fished for commercial purposes while their populations continue to decrease globally - including several endangered or threatened species such as European conger eels - including those considered critically endangered or close to extinction such as European conger eels which is currently largest species on record in terms of body size in existence today.
Eels are herbivorous
Eels may appear scary, but they are actually not dangerous; however, if threatened they may bite. Eels typically feed on small fish and crustaceans but can also consume shrimp and mollusks.
Eels inhabit fresh, salt and brackish waters as well as coastal bays. As bottom dwellers they usually hide from predators under rocks or in burrows or tubes on the sea floor; one species even survived captivity for over 155 years! Eels generally live for 15-30 years in captivity before dying out and becoming extinct.
At juvenile stages, eels are known as elvers. As they travel along marine currents until reaching the Sargasso Sea, where they eventually turn into adult eels. Here, their clear gel body begins to take on pigmentation while special kidneys develop that enable them to store more salt in response to their environment.
Eels that live in tanks or aquariums need ample clean water in which to thrive, as well as access to protein paste or pellets containing the essential nutrients they require for growth. When trained to come to specific spots when food arrives via signals and cues, they can even be trained to respond.
Eels are omnivorous
Eels are remarkable creatures capable of transitioning between freshwater and saltwater environments by altering the salt content in their cells, which allows them to access nutrients in both environments. Their kidneys also possess special receptors to hold extra salt that maintains salinity levels within their blood. This unique adaptation makes eels more durable than other fish and allows them to survive even in areas that provide limited or no food sources.
Eels are nocturnal hunters that use their sense of smell to locate prey. During the day they hide in burrows, tubes, snags, masses of aquatic vegetation undercut banks or deep pools near logs and boulders and feed on an assortment of aquatic organisms including crustaceans and worms.
Eels may travel long distances across water bodies, yet their migration poses numerous threats. Their habitat can become degraded over time, while barriers that limit downstream migration (e.g. dams) may negatively impact reproduction and population structure. Elvers and yellow eels may become prey for large bass and predatory birds while becoming trapped in nets or caught by fishing gear.
