pdf version - South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks

EEL (family Anguillidae)
American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
Quick key characteristics: The American eel is found in cool- and warmwater
habitats. It has a soft, elongate caudal fi n that is continuous with dorsal
and anal fi ns, but lacks pelvic fi ns. It has a forward-facing mouth with the
lower jaw protruding in front of the upper, and its body shape is elongated
and tubular, giving it the appearance of a snake. It appears scaleless, but has
small scales embedded in its skin.
Similar species in South Dakota: silver lamprey, burbot
Identifi cation: The American eel is more elongate than burbot and lacks a
chin barbel and pelvic fi ns. Presence of jaws and pectoral fi ns distinguish it
from the silver lamprey.
Range: The American eel spawns in the Sargasso Sea of the Atlantic Ocean.
Females may migrate far inland via rivers that empty into the Atlantic and
Gulf of Mexico coasts. Movement up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers is
impeded by dams, so the species is now rare in South Dakota and only found
in the Missouri River and tributaries downstream from Gavin’s Point Dam
and in the Minnesota River drainage.
Items of interest:
• Feeds on living and dead animals of all kinds
• Mostly nocturnal
• May travel short distances across land
in moist conditions
• Adults that return to Sargasso Sea
from freshwater die after spawning
• Females may reach 70 in., but males
are much smaller
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