Eel
? Eel | ||||||||
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| Anguilla rostrata | ||||||||
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Suborder Anguilloidei
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Eels are fish of the order Anguilliformes that consists of 2 suborders, 23 families, 110 genii and 400 species. In length they reach from 10 cm. to 3 m., weight from 15 to 65 kg. The number of rays of the gill webbing consists from 6 - 51, sometimes they are absent altogether. Their fins are always spineless. The back and anal fins are long, usually connecting with the tail fin. The belly and chest fins are absent. The shoulder girdle is separate from the skull. The scales are cycloid or absent.
The flat and transparent Larva of the eel is called a Leptocephalus. A young eel is called an elver.
Most eels prefer to dwell in shallow waters, hide at the bottom layer of the ocean, sometimes in holes. Only the Anguillidae family comes to fresh water to dwell there (not to breed). Some eels dwell in deep water (in case of family Synaphobranchidae, this comes to a depth of 4000 m.), or are active swimmers (the family Nemichthyidae - to the depth of 500 m.).
Most eels are predators.
Freshwater eels (unagi) and marine eels (Conger eel, anago) are commonly used in Japanese cuisine. Eels are used in Cantonese and Shanghai cuisine too. The European eel and other freshwater eels are eaten in Europe, the United States, and other places around the world. A traditional London food is Jellied eels. The Basque delicacy, angulas, consists of deep-fried elvers.
Spiny eels and halosaurs of the order Notacanthiformes are also very eel-like. These deep-diving fish were in the past considered a sub-order of the Albuliformes.
Electric eels are not true eels. They are more closely related to Catfish.
Uniquely in Europe, hand netting is the only legal way of catching eels in England, and has been practiced for thousands of years on the River Parrett and River Severn.
The Anguilliformes (true eels) are an order of bony fishes.
Eel skins are used in some wallets and purses.