One of the oldest theories about the Loch Ness monster’s true identity was that it’s some form of giant eel. This eel has two rows of very sharp teeth and is brownish-grey in color, although it also has yellow on and below its fins, a black patch on the pectorals and on parts of its eye, and narrow black edges on its median fins. _g1.setAttribute('src', _g1.getAttribute('data-src') ); They tend to be about three feet in length, although specimens are known to reach just over five feet. Eels in the first family share a common genus and reside primarily in North America; those in the latter class generally live in tropical locales and have different body s… The Longfin African Conger can be found on reef flats and in shallow lagoons on seagrass beds. Though not considered a true type of eel, the Half-Banded Spiny Eel resembles other types of eels with its long, slender body. Eating mostly small fish and crustaceans, the Snowflake Moray is usually found from seven to one-hundred feet below the ocean. Most eels are nocturnal, meaning they are most active and hunting at night. _g1.setAttribute('src', _g1.getAttribute('data-src') ); Common saltwater eels include Worm Eels, Moray Eels, and Spaghetti Eels, as well as the Electric Eel, which produces an electrical current that is strong enough to paralyze its prey, something that no other animal can do. Growing up to four feet long, the mottled conger is native to the southwestern Pacific region and is often confused with similar species throughout both the Atlantic and Pacific. Other names for the Tire Track Eel include the White-Spotted Spiny Eel and the Zig Zag Eel, although the latter is actually a different type of eel. The eggs of all eels hatch into transparent, ribbon-like larvae that may grow to a large size before becoming adults. Based on the color covering the body, dragon eels divided two species, violet goby (Gobioides broussoneti) and redfish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus). While these eels tend to be light brown with a yellow stripe and eye-shaped spots along the upper body, the exact coloration and markings are known to vary. These eels are often referred to as Tulip eels – the way they hang in a vertical position with the head inflated resembles a tulip! They have a muddy appearance with a greyish-brown dorsal fin that fades to white at the ventral area. The theory wasn’t as popular as a plesiosaur and thus wasn’t taken seriously. They can be found up to 100 feet below the surface. They can be found in various types of water, including brackish, saltwater, and freshwater bodies of water. [2] It includes some of the largest types of eels, ranging up to 3 m (10 ft) in length, in the case of the European conger. The body is dark-tan or light-brown in color with a series of linear black spots. _g1 = document.getElementById('g1-logo-mobile-inverted-img'); Grant Heilman/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. This is a bizarre sight, especially when several do so at the same time. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. When courting, eels will open their mouths wide and wrap themselves around one another, only letting go after the females lay their eggs, which the males then fertilize. It lives over 250 feet below the surface of the ocean and can be found in waters near East Africa, the Easter Islands, south of Japan and northern Australia, to name a few. Types of Eels. Eels are a type of fish that resembles a snake. Swamp eels. In some parts of the world, they find themselves on the menu, but their own preferred foods include plant matter, small fish, shrimp, and worms. After they reach their destination, the female eels lay millions of fertilized eggs. The tire track eel from the Mastacembelidae family is a very long fish with a... 2. His evidence included claims of a four-inch barbed tooth found in a partially eaten deer carcass. The dorsal fin of a shortfin eel only extends a little further forward than the anal fin It lives in the Indo-Pacific area and is also known as the Clouded Moray. They’re equally capable of breathing in and out of water. Black-Spotted Eel. The Fimbriated Moray has a body that is yellowish-green in color and has black spots. It is found mostly in the South American region, and their electrical jolts are even harmful enough to paralyze some mammals that are as large as a horse. According to McDonald’s theory, an Anguilla had migrated to the Loch and become trapped when workers used dynamite to build roadways, likely collapsing an underwater entry point. The reason... Electric Eel. There are nearly a thousand species of true eels, including morays, congers, snake eels, freshwater eels, and deep-sea eels. Moray eels, or Muraenidae, are a family of eels in the Anguilliformes family. When it comes to the world’s most dangerous eels, no species can beat the family of moray eels. _g1.setAttribute('srcset', _g1.getAttribute('data-srcset')); Freshwater eels and marine eels (anago, conger eel) are commonly used in Japanese cuisine; foods such as unadon and unajuu are popular but expensive.Eels are also very popular in Chinese cuisine and are prepared in many different ways. You’ll find most available in stores online, but a few you’ll have to go in person to find. if ( localStorage.getItem(skinItemId ) ) { The body markings on the Zig Zag Eel are also different, as they are more pronounced on the upper portion of its body, whereas the markings are found all through the body of the Tire Track Eel. All told there are 12 genera and, over 200 species across this broad group, more than any other fishy family except perhaps the wrasses. They also tend to be poisonous if ingested by humans. The Purple Spaghetti Eel was first mentioned in the early 1820s, and they are found in the Eastern Indian Ocean, including Malta, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. Their larvae are transparent, flat and … It is a part of the Conger genus. Freshwater Eels are found throughout the world in tropical, subtropical and temperate climates. Freshwater eels (known as unagi in Japan) belong to the Anguillidae family and comprise of about 19 species and 6 subspecies They have two continuous fins running along the length of their bodies and measure one to three feet in length.. The types of eels are salt water eels, freshwater eels, the swamp eels, rubber eels and the electric eels. In most cases, this is very untrue. While the European Eel Anguilla Anguilla as well as the American Eel Anguilla rostrata typically live in the freshwater but could also spawn in the ocean. This is actually a spiny eel, which is technically not an eel at all, and it is known for its attractive body. The Crossword Solver finds answers to American-style crosswords, British-style crosswords, general knowledge crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. The moray and conger are common genuses of marine eels, in which many species exist with varying colors, sizes, diets, and habitats. It has a long snake-like body and is also found in various oceans around North America, Brazil, and Bermuda, and as well as in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. These strange eels have a lifespan of up to 12 years. Another species of Anguilla, the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) lives in the US and is believed to be the true identity of Champ, the serpentine monster of Lake Champlain. These eels can be found throughout Europe and the North-Eastern Atlantic and have been a popular food eel in England. } Unlike their giant kin, the gray conger is not only edible but a common site at fish markets. Some of these actually breed in salt water, although most species never travel far from home. Basically we have two types of eels, Long Finned (Anguilla reinhardtii ) and Short Finned (Anguilla australis). Morays are eaten in some areas of the world, but their flesh is sometimes toxic and can cause illness or death. They measure between a mere nine inches to over five feet in length and are generally found at depths around 12,000 feet. The smallest eel is the Snyder’s Moray, which only grows to a little over four inches in length. American eel (Anguilla rostrata). Let’s take a look at just ten of these types of eels below. As with most nocturnal eels, they prefer the shelter of reefs and rocky areas during the day. Their weight ranges from 30 grams to 25 kgs while there can be gray eels or black eels to colorful ones. Cone Heels Their eyes are rather small; morays rely mostly on their highly developed sense of smell, lying in wait to ambush prey. While spiny eels are generally considered a type of eel, they are actually an unrelated type of fish. Barring their loss of habitat, electric eels are able to live up to 15 years in the wild. Eel, (order Anguilliformes), any of more than 800 species of teleost fishes characterized by elongate wormlike bodies. The moray is part of the family Muraenidae, which consists of large, cosmopolitan, carnivorous eels. They usually don’t get more than a foot long, and they can live anywhere between eight and 18 years. With an elongated body and a pointy snout, the Tire Track Eel is a durable but very shy fish that starts out small, roughly six to eight inches in length. They’ll eat any form of meat, from crustacean and fish to shellfish and squid. Found in the Indo-Pacific area, the Fimbriated Moray is also called a Spot-Face Moray or a Dark-spotted Moray and prefers protected areas such as top reefs, lagoons, harbors, and the outer slopes of coral reefs. Most eels can be found in shallow waters of the ocean. Within these families there are over 800 freshwater and marine species. Types of Freshwater Eel Black Spotted Eel. Although many people think eels are reptiles (snakes), they are actually fish. Most species lack pectoral and pelvic fins, adding to their serpentine appearance. Morays are true eels and fall inside the order Muraenidae. Younger morays are tan-colored and have large black spots on their body, and one of the more significant aspects of the Giant Moray is that they are poisonous to humans if they are eaten. Unfortunately, Nessie may have died of old age by now if she was indeed a trapped Anguilla eel. It only grows to about eight inches in length, and it has vertical markings that present a more banded look, hence its name. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage, and most are predators. Eels come in an assortment of sizes – ranging from about 5 inches long when fully grown to over 13 feet in length. 18 Different Types of Eels (Not All are Shocking), 11 Different Types of Stingrays (Plus Interesting Facts). The Zebra Moray can also be found on the eastern coast of Africa and places such as the Red Sea, Galapagos, and even in Hawaii. Eels have very poor eyesight, so if you keep them in an aquarium and start to feed them, experts usually recommend you use a set of tongs rather than your hands, because the eels may accidentally bite your fingers in the process. McDonald cross-referenced the tooth’s shape with known creatures and found it matched an Atlantic species of eel called the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Eels are types of fish that are elongated, scaleless, and resemble snakes. If you keep one in a tank, it is recommended not to place animals such as crabs or shrimp in there also, but rather, it is best to pair them with large, aggressive fish such as tangs, wrasses, and lionfish. Named for the dark black markings on its brown body that resemble tires, this Asian species measures 3.5 feet long and is another popular aquarium species. In fact, it needs to breathe air about 80% of the time in order to stay alive. They’re a hardy species that can grow up to one foot long and make popular aquarium pets due to their docile nature and 18 year lifespan. When they start to eat their food, they tie their bodies in knots in order to anchor down and better get at the food. The Giant Moray is found in the Indo-Pacific region living in reefs. This peculiar species has a very thin body that grows up to 17 inches in length with purple or pinkish-brown coloration. They live mainly in rivers and inland lakes but can be found in almost all types of waters, usually well inland from the coast. These eels are omnivores by nature, but they eat everything from worms to shrimp and small fish to plant matter. Eels get up to roughly 50 pounds in weight and can grow as long as 13 feet in length, depending on the species. These eels live all over the world in temperate to tropical waters. This type of eel is origin to the pacific ocean. Freshwater eels are known by their long, snake-like bodies and their fins, which merge together to form a continual ridge instead of being two separate fins like saltwater eels have. These charges are strong enough to paralyze a full-grown cow, and capturing one requires the eel to be provoked into discharging its glands completely before the captor can safely retrieve it. 18 Different Types of Eels. Most are without a separate dorsal and pelvic fin, rather their fins appear merge together with the tail fin to form a continuous fin fringe. These snakelike creatures are more gentle than their aggressive relatives, the morays. It is a close relative of the Zig Zag Eel, and it gets to roughly 2.5 feet in length. Moray Eel Overview. In fact, when in captivity the Snowflake Moray can live for four years or even longer. They are legendary climbers and have made their way well inland in most river systems, even those with natural barriers. As far-fetched as this theory is, there’s now some evidence to support it. Elvers (young eels) swimming up river will climb wat… Electric Eels grow to around eight feet in length and get up to 45 pounds, and their lifespan is approximately 15 years. These guys are going to … Unlike many species on this list, these spiny eels actually prefer sandy or gravelly seabeds as well as highly vegetated areas. To match the reports of Nessie, an eel would have to reach 30 feet in length, which is unlikely but (theoretically) not impossible. Like many other eels, they feed mostly on crustaceans and small fish. There are several species of eels, which fall into the families of either freshwater or saltwater eels. The adult moray has leopard-like spots that are black in color, and their main diet consists of fish and various crustaceans. With so many different types of eels, they have adapted to many different ecosystems including both freshwater and saltwater bodies of water. Congers are another group which has gained notoriety, with some species reaching 10 feet long. Types of food. The males notably dig burrows for the eggs. The Peacock Eel is also good for people considering having an eel as a pet because they are easy to get along with, even if you put other Peacock Eels in the aquarium with them. Eels in deep sea have gray or black color while those found in tropical reef have colorful patterns. In addition, some fish and eel are very similar chemically and biologically, and, in fact, they can only be distinguished from one another at the cellular area. You may be surprised to know there are more than 800 species of eel out there, as well as numerous fish species that are considered “honorable eels”. Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) They can grow up to eight feet long and may weigh as much as 45 pounds. Sometimes referred to as the blackfin conger, this Indo-Pacific species has a brownish-grey body with black patches on the eye and pectoral region. This species is the true monster of the ocean and sea, and snorkelers and divers know them so well. Oddly enough, their heads are so small, they’re very difficult to pick out and its tiny eyes are covered in skin. They subsist mainly off of crustaceans and fish. They’re native to the western Indo-Pacific region. Anadromous fishes, like Salmon and American Shad, spawn in fresh water but live as adults in the ocean. Bonus Eel: Champ, Nessie, and the Anguilla Eel Theory. They do have long bodies like snakes do, but they are actually a fish with a scale-less body. They belong to a large group of fishes called the eel order. Eels come in different sizes, from the small 11-inch Peacock eel right through to the enormous 8-foot electric eel that might suit you if you’re an experienced fish keeper with a very large aquarium. Moray eels are usually vividly marked or colored. Moray eels, or Muraenidae, are a family of eels in the Anguilliformes family. Moray and Conger – What’s the Difference? _g1 = document.getElementById('g1-logo-mobile-inverted-source'); Having similar markings to a zebra, this Indo-Pacific species has the widest range of diet among any species listed here. Pebbly or sandy bottoms, and they can also be called the Marbled and! 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