Species FishEuropean Eel

European Eel

Anguilla anguilla

UncommonFish
Illustration of European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The European Eel is an elongated fish with a snake-like appearance and a dark greenish-brown coloration. Remarkably, they migrate thousands of kilometers from freshwater habitats to spawn in the Sargasso Sea.

Habitat
Freshwater rivers and lakes, migrating to the sea to breed.
Diet
Carnivorous, feeding on fish, crustaceans, and worms.
How common
Uncommon

Recent European Eel sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a European Eel? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.

Get Huck

Get an alert when a European Eel is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love fish? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More fish

European Flounder
European Flounder
Platichthys flesus
European Minnow
European Minnow
Phoxinus phoxinus
European Parrotfish
European Parrotfish
Sparisoma cretense
European Perch
European Perch
Perca fluviatilis
European Seabass
European Seabass
Dicentrarchus labrax
Eyeline Surgeonfish
Eyeline Surgeonfish
Acanthurus nigricauda
Eyestripe Surgeonfish
Eyestripe Surgeonfish
Acanthurus dussumieri
Eyetail Bowfin
Eyetail Bowfin
Amia ocellicauda