American eel

The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is a long, snake-like fish found along the Atlantic coast of North America. It has a flexible, slim body and can grow up to 4 feet long. Eels are born in the ocean’s Sargasso Sea, then migrate many miles upstream into rivers and lakes to live and grow. They are nocturnal and opportunistic feeders, eating insects, fish, and invertebrates. Eels are important ecologically and commercially, but they face threats from habitat loss, dams, and overfishing, leading to their classification as a species of concern.