Facts about Eels

1. 08

   Leptocephalus larvae of the American eel drift on ocean currents for up to one year and shrink to approximately 2 inches long before transforming into elvers and entering freshwater rivers.

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2. 07

   Garden eels burrow into seafloor sand in colonies of up to 1,500 individuals, remaining tethered to their burrows by mucus-lined tubes while extending their heads to feed on passing plankton.

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3. 06

   Gulper eels possess mouths that open at nearly 120 degrees and stomachs capable of expanding to swallow prey larger than their own bodies.

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4. 05

   Conger eels can reach lengths of 9 feet and weigh up to 132 pounds, making them among the largest eel species in European waters.

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5. 04

   Moray eels possess a second set of jaws called pharyngeal jaws located in their throat that can shoot forward to capture prey that enters their mouth.

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6. 03

   Freshwater eels possess eyes that enlarge by up to 40 percent during their downstream migration to the ocean, a transformation called silvering that occurs over several months.

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7. 02

   Electric eels generate up to 860 volts of electricity through specialized organs containing 5,000 to 8,000 electrocyte cells stacked in series.

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8. 01

   Across the Atlantic, European eels migrate over 5,000 miles to the Sargasso Sea to spawn only once before dying.

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