European Eel Larva
Anguilla anguilla (leptocephalus larva)
This transparent, leaf-shaped larva lives in the open ocean after hatching in the Sargasso Sea. It drifts with currents rather than actively hunting like an adult, feeding mainly on tiny organic particles suspended in the water. Its flattened body is so clear and delicate that it is difficult for predators to spot in bright surface waters. This long larval journey helps carry young eels toward European and North African coasts.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- CR
Growth chain
- European Eel Larva
- European Eel Glass Eel
- European Eel Yellow Eel
- European Eel