THE EELS

The eels, which are long, snake-like fishes, often growing to a large size. The body is elongated, cylindrical or compressed and band-shaped. Eels are voracious fishes occurring in the tropical and sub-tropical seas and are especially abundant in the crevices of coral rocks on reefs. In many species, the jaws are curved and the mouth is filled with the knife-like teeth, that the jaws cannot be closed. The teeth are well adapted for holding their slippery prey. Eels are catadromous fishes, i.e., they return to the sea to breed. They are well marked with fine, dark spots on the head and the body.