Main Characteristics of Eels

• There are over 1,000 species of eels.
• The most well-known species is the moray eel.
• Eels have long, narrow bodies that look like snakes.
• Eels mostly live in the ocean.
• Most eels are found in tropical waters, but the European eel and the American eel can also be found in cooler climates.
• They are carnivorous. They eat other fish, crustaceans, insects, worms, and snails.
• The largest eel is the giant delta moray, which can grow up to 13 feet (4 meters) long.
• The smallest eel is the Snyder moray, reaching only about 4.5 inches (11.5 cm).
• The oldest eel is the New Zealand longfin eel, which can live up to 106 years.
• The deepest diving eel is the Ilyophis robinsae, which has been spotted at a depth of 2,982 miles (4,800 meters).

Species List