What is American eel?
[[File:American eel (Anguilla rostrata) (4015394951).jpg|thumb|American eel]] The '''American eel''' (''Anguilla rostrata'') is a catadromous [[teleost]] fish in the family [[Anguillidae]]. It occurs in the Americas, from [[Greenland]] to [[Brazil]]. It has an elongated body like a [[snake]]. It lives in [[river]]s and [[lake]]s, mostly in [[North America|North]] and [[Central America]]. These eels are active during the night. At day they hide on the ground of the river or lake. They feed on [[insect]] [[larva]]e, [[worm]]s, smaller fish and small [[crustacean]]s. To spawn, they migrate to the [[Sargasso Sea]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. They grown to a length of about {{convert|1.5|m}} and a weight of up to {{convert|7|kg}}. == Life cycle == === Eggs === The eggs hatch within a week of deposition in the [[Sargasso Sea]]. Fertilization is external, and adult eels are presumed to [[Death|die]] after spawning. None has been reported to migrate up rivers. === Leptocephali === The leptocephalus is the larval form, a stage strikingly different from the adult form the eels will grow into. Growth has been evaluated at about 0.21 to 0.38 mm per day. === Glass eel === As they enter the continental shelf, leptocephali metamorphose into glass eels (juveniles), which are transparent and have the typical snake shape of [[Eel|eels]]. === Elvers === Glass eels become progressively pigmented as they approach the shore; these eels are termed elvers. === Yellow eel === This is the sexually immature adult stage of American eel. They begin to develop a yellow color and a creamy or yellowish belly. In this phase, the eels are still mainly nocturnal. === Silver eel === As the maturation process proceeds, the yellow eel now turns into a silver eel. == Feeding == [[File:American Eel.jpg|thumb|Illustration]] American eels are [[Nocturnal animals|nocturnal]] and most of their feeding occurs at night. They have a keen sense of smell, meaning they most likely depend on scent to find food. === Leptocephalus === Little is known ab