Anguillidae

Family of fishes AnguillidaeTemporal range: Danian–0 PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Early Paleocene (Danian) to Present New Zealand longfin eel(Anguilla dieffenbachii) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Division: Teleostei Order: Anguilliformes Suborder: Anguilloidei Family: AnguillidaeRafinesque, 1810 Genus: AnguillaGarsault, 1764 Type species Anguilla anguillaLinnaeus, 1758 Species See text The Anguillidae are a family of ray-finned fish that contains the freshwater eels. All the extant species and six subspecies in this family are in the genus Anguilla, and are elongated fish of snake-like bodies, with long dorsal, caudal and anal fins forming a continuous fringe. They are catadromous, spending their adult lives in freshwater, but migrating to the ocean to spawn. Eels are an important food fish and some species are now farm-raised, but not bred in captivity. Many populations in the wild are now threatened, and Seafood Watch recommends consumers avoid eating anguillid eels. Description Adult freshwater eels are elongated with tubelike, snake-shaped bodies. They have large, pointed heads and their dorsal fins are usually continuou