1. Nick PresentsNick Presents
EEL MIGRATIONEEL MIGRATION
Prepared by Nick ShylanPrepared by Nick Shylan
Form 7AForm 7A
School # 5School # 5
2. MigrationMigration
Animal migration is the travelling of long distances inAnimal migration is the travelling of long distances in
search of a new habitat. The trigger for the migrationsearch of a new habitat. The trigger for the migration
may be local climate, local availability of food, or themay be local climate, local availability of food, or the
season of the year. To be counted as a true migration,season of the year. To be counted as a true migration,
and not just a local dispersal or irruption, theand not just a local dispersal or irruption, the
movement of the animals should be an annual ormovement of the animals should be an annual or
seasonal occurrence, such as birds migrating south forseasonal occurrence, such as birds migrating south for
the winter, or a major habitat change as part of their lifethe winter, or a major habitat change as part of their life
cycle, such as young Atlantic salmon leaving the river ofcycle, such as young Atlantic salmon leaving the river of
their birth when they have reached a few inches in sizetheir birth when they have reached a few inches in size
3. EELEEL
Eels are an order of fish, which
consists of four suborders, 19 families,
110 genera and approximately 800
species. Most eels are predators. The
term "eel" is also used for some other
similarly shaped fish, such as electric
eels and spiny eels, but these are not
members of the Anguilliformes order.
4. Ocean travellerOcean traveller
The European eel has a mysterious life cycle.The European eel has a mysterious life cycle.
It spends its early years in our rivers before heading out to seaIt spends its early years in our rivers before heading out to sea
and across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea in the westernand across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea in the western
Atlantic near the Bahamas.Atlantic near the Bahamas.
Here, it is assumed they spawn and lay eggs, however this hasHere, it is assumed they spawn and lay eggs, however this has
never been witnessed.never been witnessed.
The eggs hatch into transparent larvae called leptocephalus andThe eggs hatch into transparent larvae called leptocephalus and
make the return journey to Europe floating on oceanic currents.make the return journey to Europe floating on oceanic currents.
By the time they reach our shores, they have developed into tinyBy the time they reach our shores, they have developed into tiny
glass eels that swim against the current into Europe's rivers.glass eels that swim against the current into Europe's rivers.
While living in our rivers, the eels can grow up to 1m long.While living in our rivers, the eels can grow up to 1m long.
