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Scientific Name
Anguilla australis
Other Common Names
Silver eel, yellow eel
Size
To 1.09m more than 3Kg in weight
Conservation Status
Common\ widespread
Habitat
Often preferring still waters such as lakes, dams and swamps, nevertheless
often quite abundant in rivers and streams, especially in areas of lower
water velocity. Found in a wide range of habitats throughout it range.
Distribution in East Gippsland
Widespread and common in southern areas.
Reproduction
Short finned eels have an interesting life-cycle. The mature adults migrate
from fresh water to the sea in order to spawn after which it is believed
they die. Where they actually spawn is uncertain but is believed to be
in the South Coral Sea off the coast of North Queensland. Mature females
about a metre in length have been found to contain more than 3 million
eggs.
The eel larvae, known as leptocephali because of their leaf like flat
shape, are carried south by the East Australian Current from their spawning
grounds until they reach the continental shelf. At around this time they
metamorphose into the normal tubular eel shape although devoid of any
pigment and so are known as glass eels.
When the glass eels begin to migrate into fresh water they may be anywhere
from one to three years old. Migration begins in the autumn in Northern
regions reaching Western Victoria by mid spring. Whilst in the estuarine
waters the glass eels quickly develop into fully pigment elvers and adjust
to fresh water.
Subsequent migrations from the estuaries into fresh water involve both
elvers and glass eels and may happen after, during or before the main
migration from the sea. These migrations are know as "eel fares" from
which the term "elver" is derived. Generally these occur at
night and may involve as many as four different age classes.
The upstream migration continues well into the upper reaches of the river
systems and elvers and glass eels (and adults) can overcome even large
obstructions such as dams and waterfalls by the simple expedient of traveling
overland in damp conditions, with a motion much like snakes.
Eels can live for a long time and females may reach the age of 35 years
before feeling the urge to begin the cycle all over again. Males may
live for 25 years. However females as young as 10 and males as young
6 may begin the downstream migration to breed.
Diet
Opportunistic, mainly carnivorous feeders, eels eat all manner of aquatic
animals including fish, insects, yabbies, shrimps, molluscs and frogs.
Angling
Eels readily take bait, often that intended for other species. Can provide
good fun on light tackle. Not generally deliberately fished for by freshwater
anglers and often despised for their snake like appearance and heavy
slime coating.
On the table
If caught in clear water, eels provide good eating. Generally prepared
by skinning and cutting into suitable lengths. Unlike many fish, eel
is quite good if well pan fried over a moderate to high heat until the
flesh begins to brown. Smoked eel is delicious.
In the aquarium
Eels make interesting pets, but some individuals can be terrible escapologists.
Easy to feed, eels will take a wide variety of food, such as fish strips
and live shrimp, yabbies and aquatic insects.
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