European Eel

Maximum longevity: 88 years (captivity) Observations: In the wild, these semelparous animals die after first spawning. After transformation from juvenile to adult stage they do not eat and feature elevated corticosteroids while they migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. Preventing migration by keeping animals in captivity significantly extends lifespan. One female called "Putte", generally assumed to be a European eel, died at Halsinborgs Museum in Sweden at about 88 years of age (Caleb Finch 1990). In the wild, animals do not commonly live more than 10-15 years, though it is possible some live up to 30 years (http://www.fishbase.org/).

Feeds on freshwater and marine fauna

Rivers of North Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean seas. 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

Occasionally found in Canadian Atlantic waters.Spawning occurs in Sargasso Sea, leptocephali drift for about 3 years across Atlantic to brackish waters, after several years, return migration back to Sargasso Sea.

benthic