Order Anguilliformes (Eels) American eel Moray Eel Conger Eel Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Anguilliformes Characteristics Lack pelvic fins Dorsal and anal fins are continuos with the caudal fin Embedded cycloid scales, or totally absent Lack gill rakers Reduced skeleton Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Anguilliformes Characteristics All have leptocephalus larvae Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Order Anguilliformes Freshwater Eels Moray Eels Conger Eels Snake Eels Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Freshwater Eels Catadromous Important predator in many lakes and streams Considered a food fish in some locals Local species: American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Freshwater Eel Reproduction Migrate to the Sargasso Sea after 6-12 years in freshwater habitats Size - 35 - 150cm. Spawn at great depths and die Leptocephalus larvae “migrate” to coastal waters, and metamorphose into elvers Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Spawning Sites Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Moray Eels Efficient predators on reefs and rocky shores Preys on inverts and fish Teeth are always on display since they have to hold their mouth open to breathe May exceed 9ft. rarely > 3ft. Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Conger Eels Resemble morays Most prey on inverts Garden eels Have pectoral fins and stout cone shaped teeth Most prey on inverts Garden eels Feed on plankton and often mistaken as seagrass Garden Eels Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Snake Eels Largest of all eel families Small in size (<3ft.) and brightly colored Rarely seen, due to burrowing and nocturnal behavior Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Family Clupeidae (Herrings) Includes: Herrings, Shads, Sardines, and Menhaden Live in well-lit surface waters School Feed on plankton DMF Website Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Clupeidae Characteristics Silvery scales and compressed body Flexible mouth, with fine gill rakers Play key roles in many food webs Highly abundant, ability to feed on plankton Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Clupeidae Characteristics Concentrate in coastal waters Many species are not harvested for direct consumption Important prey items for other commercially important species Several anadromous species Gizzard shad American Shad Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) Important commercial fishery on the East coast Omega protein Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Purse Seine Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) Anadromous species Spawn all over the East coast Female spawns over 600,000 eggs Valuable for the roe Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Common Clupeids Atlantic Thread Herring (Opisthonema oglinum) Round Herring (Etrumeus teres) Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Family Engraulidae Small, (<15cm.) filter feeder Inhabit inshore waters where plankton densities are highest Distinguished by inferior mouth Like Clupeids, numbers fluctuate due to fishing pressure and oceanographic conditions Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids

Family Engraulidae Peruvian Anchoveta Occurr in the upwelling currents on the west coast of South America Once one of the worlds largest fisheries El Nino combined with fishing pressure caused a major collapse Anguilliformes, Clupeids, and Engraulids