Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: EEL, AMERICAN

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: ANGUILLIFORMES

Family: ANGUILLIDAE

Genus: ANGUILLA

Species: ROSTRATA

Taxonomic Authority: (LESUEUR)

Taxonomy References: 006

Status

COMMERCIAL
GAME
STATE RANK SU

Status References: 009 , 019

Habitat Summary

"Occurs in moderate to large streams and ditches with continuous flow and moderately clear water."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 013 , 001 , 002 , 003 , 005

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Probably occurs occasionally in every large stream in Missouri where movements are not impeded by dams *005."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BOLLINGER ANDREW DENT ADAIR
BOONE ATCHISON HOWELL AUDRAIN
BUTLER BUCHANAN LEWIS BARRY
CALLAWAY CARROLL MORGAN BARTON
CAPE GIRARDEAU CLAY SALINE BATES
CARTER HOLT STONE BENTON
CHARITON JACKSON WASHINGTON CALDWELL
CLARK LAFAYETTE CAMDEN
COLE MONITEAU CASS
COOPER PLATTE CEDAR
CRAWFORD RAY CHRISTIAN
DUNKLIN STE. GENEVIEVE CLINTON
FRANKLIN STODDARD DADE
GASCONADE WARREN DALLAS
HOWARD DAVIESS
JEFFERSON DEKALB
LINCOLN DOUGLAS
MACON GENTRY
MARIES GREENE
MARION GRUNDY
MILLER HARRISON
MISSISSIPPI HENRY
MONROE HICKORY
MONTGOMERY IRON
NEW MADRID JASPER
OREGON JOHNSON
OSAGE KNOX
OZARK LACLEDE
PEMISCOT LAWRENCE
PERRY LINN
PHELPS LIVINGSTON
PIKE MADISON
PULASKI MCDONALD
RALLS MERCER
REYNOLDS NEWTON
RIPLEY NODAWAY
SCOTT PETTIS
SHANNON POLK
SHELBY PUTNAM
ST. CHARLES RANDOLPH
ST. LOUIS SCHUYLER
TANEY SCOTLAND
TEXAS ST. CLAIR
WAYNE ST. FRANCOIS
SULLIVAN
VERNON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 005 , 007 , 008

Distribution by Watersheds

Des Moines R.
South Fabius R.
Miss. R. from Des Moines R. to MO. R.; and North R.
North Fork from Headwaters to South Fork
Salt R.
Miss. R. from St. Louis to River Aux Vases
Meramec R.
Big R.
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Castor R. and Castor R. Diversion Channel
Miss R. from Ohio R. to Arkansas Border
St. John's Ditch and Blue Ditch
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Grand R. from Shoal Creek to MO. R.
Chariton R. from Shuteye Creek to Mo. R.
Osage R. from Bagnell Dam to Mo. R.
Gasconade R. from Headwaters to Big Piney R.
Big Piney R.
Gasconade R. from Big Piney R. to Mo. R.
Mo. R. from Kansas City to Little Chariton R.
Mo. R. from Little Chariton R. to Gasconade R.
Lamine R.
Mo. R. from Gasconade R. to Miss. R.
White R. below Tablerock Dam and Little North Fork White R.
North Fork White R.
Black R.
Current R.
Fourche Creek
Eleven Point R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Cedar Glades
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest
ALL

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Grand River
Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Big Rivers: Upper Missouri
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: White River
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, unknown perennial"

References for Aquatic Associations: 003 , 005

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 010

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Petromyzontiformes (lampreys); Juvenile stage
Coleoptera (beetles); Not Specified
Trichoptera (caddisflies); Not Specified
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Not Specified
Agnathans (jawless fishes); Not Specified
Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Not Specified
Salmoniformes (trout, salmon, smelts, pikes); Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified
Ephemeroptera (mayflies); Not Specified
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies); Not Specified
Plecoptera (stoneflies); Not Specified
Hirudineans (leeches); Not Specified
Molluscs; Not Specified
Bivalve molluscs; Not Specified
Snails; Not Specified
Crustaceans; Not Specified
Malacostraca (lobster, shrimp, crayfish, crabs); Not Specified
Cypriniformes (minnows, carps, suckers); Not Specified
Siluriformes (catfishes); Not Specified
Perciformes (bass, sunfishes, perches, drums, sculpins); Not Specified
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
Annelids (segmented worms); Not Specified
Oligochaetes (earthworms); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 013 , 015 , 005

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Natural features: pools

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 005 , 007

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Bottom type specified in comments(00100)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 005 , 007

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Does not spawn in missouri

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 005

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Underwater cover: log
Underwater cover: rocks
Big river habitat: main channel
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 016 , 001 , 003 , 005 , 007 , 012

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Underwater cover: log
Underwater cover: rocks
Big river habitat: main channel
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Natural features: pools

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 005 , 007 , 012

Niche Requirement Summary

Big river habitat: main channel
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Does not spawn in missouri
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: pools
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: fourth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Underwater cover specified in comments(00105)
Underwater cover: log
Underwater cover: rocks
Water level: permanently flooded
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
024 All eels found in MO are females *005*
020 Newly hatched larvae known as leptocephalus larvae, these transform into transparent miniature adults known as glass eels, when juvenile develop pigmentation they are called elvers. *013*.
030 In RI, onset of daily activity (and peak activity) occurred within the first 2 hours of darkness following sunset *001*
039 Most eels caught in MO are 16-33" and .25-3.75 lb, largest from MO 37" and 4.5 pounds *005*. In VT, lengths ranged from 43-90 cm, average 67 cm, wts. 120-1665 g, average 638 g *013*.
033 Are catadromus, spend most of life in fresh or brackish water, adults migrate to saragasso sea, where they spawn, then die. Young return to fresh or brackish waters, where they ascend rivers and live until their spawning migration. *005,013,001,003*. In the impounded Boughton River, Canada, showed less movement between freshwater and brackish water than that reported for eels in unimpounded systems *018*.
099 Spend several years in fresh or brackish water before leaving on spawning migration *003,005,013*. Females thought to spend 5-20 years in fresh water *005*. In VT, females taken were 8-23 years, average 15.9 years of age *013*. Seaward migration may begin when females are approximately 80 cm long *013*. In RI, metamorphosis to sea-going form usually occurs in autumn *001*. Fresh water form known as "yelloweels", sea-going form known as "bronze eels" - due to differences in coloration *013*

Life History Information

Periodicity: active at night
Periodicity specified in comments(030)
Migration patterns specified in comments(033)
Length-weight relationships specified in comments(039)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: stalking
Foraging sites: water
Development of young at birth/hatching specified in comments(020)
Sex ratio specified in comments(024)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
024 All eels found in MO are females *005*
020 Newly hatched larvae known as leptocephalus larvae, these transform into transparent miniature adults known as glass eels, when juvenile develop pigmentation they are called elvers. *013*.
030 In RI, onset of daily activity (and peak activity) occurred within the first 2 hours of darkness following sunset *001*
039 Most eels caught in MO are 16-33" and .25-3.75 lb, largest from MO 37" and 4.5 pounds *005*. In VT, lengths ranged from 43-90 cm, average 67 cm, wts. 120-1665 g, average 638 g *013*.
033 Are catadromus, spend most of life in fresh or brackish water, adults migrate to saragasso sea, where they spawn, then die. Young return to fresh or brackish waters, where they ascend rivers and live until their spawning migration. *005,013,001,003*. In the impounded Boughton River, Canada, showed less movement between freshwater and brackish water than that reported for eels in unimpounded systems *018*.
099 Spend several years in fresh or brackish water before leaving on spawning migration *003,005,013*. Females thought to spend 5-20 years in fresh water *005*. In VT, females taken were 8-23 years, average 15.9 years of age *013*. Seaward migration may begin when females are approximately 80 cm long *013*. In RI, metamorphosis to sea-going form usually occurs in autumn *001*. Fresh water form known as "yelloweels", sea-going form known as "bronze eels" - due to differences in coloration *013*

References for life history: 013 , 001 , 003 , 005 , 008 , 018

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Regulate harvest of species being described

Beneficial Management References: 008

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - other (specify in comments)

Adverse Management References: 002

Comments on Management:
In a SC lab study, the following chemicals commonly used in aquaculture were found to be toxic to eels in the concentrations given: malachite green at .27 mg/l, potassium permanganate at 3.06 mg/l, formalin at 83.96 mg/l, dylox at 1.31 mg/l, furanace at .77 mg/l, antimycin a at .09 micrograms/l, noxfish at 15.25 micrograms/l, copper sulfate at 2.54 mg/l, diquat at 39.02 mg/l, salt at 17.88 g/l. *001* Dams can exascerbate upstream decline in American eel density by restricting migration *017*.

References for Management Comments: 017 , 003

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Unpb Hain, J.H.W. 1975. Migratory Orientation In The Eel, Anguilla Rostrata. Ph.D. Diss., Univ. Rhode Island. 143 Pp.
002 Hinton, M.J. and A.G. Eversole. 1978. Toxicity Of Ten Commonly Used Chemicals To American Eels. Proc. Ann. Conf. S.E. Assoc. Fish Wildl. Agencies 32:599-604.
003 Cross, F.B. 1967. Handbook Of Fishes Of Kansas. Univ. Ks Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 45. 357 Pp.
004 Fleener, G. 1973-4. Recreational Use Of The Platte River, Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 7-8:82-98.
005 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
006 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
007 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
008 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
009 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
010 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
011 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
012 Barila, T.Y. and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Temperature Behavioral Responses Of The American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata (Lesueur), From Maryland. Hydrobiologica 74(1):49-51.
013 Unpb Facey, D.E. 1980. Food Habits, Age And Growth, And Sex Ratio Of American Eels In Lake Champlain, Vermont. Ms Thesis, Univ. Of Vermont. 35 Pp.
014 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
015 Denoncourt, C.E. and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1993. Feeding Selectivity Of The American Eel Amguilla Rostrata (Lesueur) In The Upper Delaware River. Amer. Midl. Nat. 129:301-308.
016 Unpb Gelwicks, G.T. 1995. Fish Movement Between The Lower Missouri River And A Managed Floodplain Wetland In Missouri. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Of Missouri-Columbia. 190 Pp.
017 Goodwin, K.R. and P.L. Angermeier. 2003. Demographic characteristics of an American eel in the Potomac River Drainage, Virginia. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 132(3): 524-535.
018 Cairns, D.K., J.C. Shiao, Y. Iizuka, W.-N. Tzeng, and C.D. MacPherson. 2004. Movement patterns of American eels in an impounded watercourse, as indicated by otolith microchemistry. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 24: 452-458.
019 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO. pp. 52.