American eel has cylindrical and snake like body. It has small and round eyes with pointed snout. It has mucus layer which makes the skin slimy despite the minute scales. It varies in color according to the age and surrounding habitat. It might be yellowish, dark brown, olive, brown, greenish, orange and yellow. The belly is white, yellowish or creamy. It is usually found in ponds, lakes, rivers, creeks and streams.
| Name | Health benefits and facts of Eel fish |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anguilla rostrata |
| Native | Mostly found on Eastern Coast of North America |
| Common/English Name | Glass eel, elver, anguille, bronze eel, black eel, green eel, glass eel, river eel, yellow eel, silver eel, american eel, common eel, fresh water eel |
| Name in Other Languages | Catalan: Anguila; Czech: Úhor americký; Danish: Amerikansk ferskvandsål, Amerikansk ål; Dutch: Aal, Amerikaanse aal, Amerikaanse paling, Paling; Finnish: Amerikanankerias; French: Anguille, Anguille americaine, Anguille américaine, anguille d’amèrique; Italian: Anguilla Americana; Mandarin Chinese: Měizhōu mánlí; Polish: Moringa cetkowana, Wegorz amerykanski; Portuguese: Enguia, Enguia americana; Russian: ugor’ amerikanskiy, Amerikanskiy ugor’, ugor’ ame; Spanish: Anguila, Anguila Americana; Swedish: Amerikansk ål |
| Lifespan | 25 years |
| Predators | Large fish, fish-eating birds and other eels |
| Feeds on | Aquatic insects, crustaceans, small insects |
| Habitat | Large streams and rivers |
| Shape & size | Elongated, slender, snakelike body with small and pointed head; Length: 1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
| Weight | 7.5 kg or 17 lb |
| Head | Long, conical with small eyes |
| Teeth | Small, setiform or pectinate |
| Scales | Small, cycloid, rudimentary |
| Body Color | Olive green, greenish to yellow, brown |
| Skin | Thick, slimy |
| Belly | Light gray, white |
| Major Nutritions | Vitamin A, RAE 1808 µg (258.29%) Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamine) 4.6 µg (191.67%) Isoleucine 1.733 g (103.65%) Lysine 3.452 g (103.23%) Tryptophan 0.421 g (95.68%) Threonine 1.649 g (93.69%) Valine 1.937 g (91.71%) Histidine 1.107 g (89.85%) Leucine 3.056 g (82.68%) Protein 37.6 g (75.20%) |
| Health Benefits |
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| Calories in 1 fillet (159 gm) | 375 Kcal. |
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