WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

February 22, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 8

THE ECLECTIC WORLD OF EELS[2]

While much has been written about the metamorphosis of caterpillars, the transformation of eels is even more fascinating. Starting as flat, transparent, and somewhat leaf-shaped larvae, they transform into elongated glass eels. As they continue to develop, they turn a brownish-pink color known as “elver.”  In freshwater, eels become yellowish green with a thicker body before maturing into silver. Some eels transform again from silver to yellow. Although many of the 800 species of eels are plentiful, the European eel and the American eel are endangered, largely due to overfishing, pollution, and parasites.

One of the few fish who can swim backwards, eels have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell. Their size and lifespan vary significantly. The one-jawed eel is a mere two inches long, while the European conger is between four to ten feet in length and weighs between 80 and 200 pounds. Found in the eastern Atlantic from Norway to Iceland, they are also in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. European eels hunt at night and mainly feed on fish and crustaceans. With a life span between 10 and 20 years, a European eel known as “Ale” became a Swedish celebrity of sorts and is rumored to have died in at age 155 in 2014 after spending most of his life in a well. Another Swedish eel, Pute, lived in a Swedish aquarium until he was 85.

Although eel is eaten globally, it is more popular in Japan and parts of Europe, including Denmark and Spain. Japan consumes nearly 100,000 tons annually, with a preference for the freshwater eel known as unagi which has a buttery flavor.  Often grilled and served with a savory sauce, unagi is also rolled into egg omelets and served over rice.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

Explore eel activity in the Susquehanna River or the Delaware River. For starting points outside your local library, check out The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org, or the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, www.cwcesu.org.

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[1] A weekly blog/newsletter by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: Eel Fact Sheet, Nature, Sept. 9, 2021, www.pbs.org; Alisa van Eeghen, The Complete Guide to Unagi: Japanese Freshwater Eel, July 18, 2025, www.byfood.com; Jason Kottke, World’s oldest eel dies, Aug. 21, 2014, www.kottke.org; Bill Francois, Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea, St. Martin’s Press, 2021.