Eels make up a family group of fish.
The etymology of eel takes us to the Latin word anguilla . The concept has two major uses, as recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) in its dictionary.
On the one hand, an eel is a fish that is characterized by the length of its body. On the other hand, a type of wood that is used in launching boats is called eel.
The eel as part of the fauna
It is important to keep in mind that eels are a family of fish . In this way, there is not a single type of eel, but rather several species that make up this group can be recognized.
At a general level, eels are teleost beings (their skeleton is completely ossified) and physostomes (the rays of their fins are flexible and soft; this animal also lacks abdominal fins). Its body is cylindrical in shape and is very extensive, reaching a length of more than one meter.
Eels live in rivers . However, upon reaching sexual maturity, they move to the ocean to reproduce. By tolerating different ranges of salt concentration, they are classified as euryhaline .
Different species
The species with the scientific name Anguilla anguilla is known as the common eel or European eel . Its presence is common in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean .
Another species is the Anguilla rostrata , referred to colloquially as the American eel . It lives in rivers in North America and moves to the Atlantic Ocean to spawn.
Eel meat is a appreciated food in several countries.
The electric eel
A species that is very striking is the electric eel , whose scientific name is Electrophorus electricus . It must be clarified, however, that it does not belong to the Anguilla group , but to the Gymnotidae family group.
Thanks to the fact that it has a special type of cells , this eel is capable of producing electric shocks . The resource serves as a defense mechanism, to catch its prey and it even uses it for communication purposes.
gastronomic use
The flavor and texture of its meat make the eel a food valued by humans. Its consumption dates back to ancient times, although it is currently limited by high prices.
Preparation methods vary according to region . In Japan, for example, it is usually grilled. In Germany , a soup that also includes dried vegetables and fruits is popular.
The eel, a piece of wood
In the field of the navy, eels are two large pieces of wood that make up, along with other elements, the base used to launch boats from the slipway.
The eels measure approximately the length of the ship. They are located parallel to the keel of the ship being built and are a very important part of the base (the structure that allows the already built ship to be left in the water ).
A British Overseas Territory
Anguilla , finally, is a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean Sea . It is an archipelago with a tropical climate whose legal status is supervised by the UN Decolonization Committee .
Considered a tax haven, Anguilla obtains most of its resources from financial activity, fishing and tourism . Its capital is The Valley ( El Valle ).