Japanese Eel

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A leptocephalus is the name given to the leaf-shaped marine larval stage of an eel's life cycle. As it reaches continental waters, it transforms into a glass eel, which subsequently gives way to colored elvers and finally the growth phase, the yellow eel. The marine-migratory silver eel, which is the last stage, is distinguished by its big eyes and silvery counter-shading.

The majority of Japanese eels that were fed to dark sleepers in an experiment tried to get up the digestive track and into the esophagus and gills. Some even managed to get away by using their gills. Others, completely wrapped in the stomach, swung around inside, perhaps looking for a way out.

Because their bodies are severely compressed and their muscles and organs are greatly diminished, you can see right through them. Their pane-like bodies are filled with a clear gel, and they have a basic tube gut (the stripe down the middle). Because their bodies are filled with a clear gel-like substance and lack developed organs or pigment cells, eels are transparent during their larval stage, also known as "leptocephalus," which allows light to pass through easily. This transparency serves as camouflage against predators in the open ocean where they spend their early life.

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The Japanese eel, which is raised in aquaculture ponds in most nations, accounts for 95% of the eels that are sold commercially in Japan; the remaining 5% are transported from Europe by air. This dish, known as unagi in Japan, is a staple of the cuisine, with grilled eels, or kabayaki, served in numerous eateries.

Some eels can be dangerous, but not all eels are dangerous. These freshwater eels are harmless despite their snake-like appearance.

The Japanese eel is recognized to be a native species in China, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea (henceforth referred to as South Korea), and the Province of China (henceforth referred to as Taiwan). This species' range encompasses a sizable portion of mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea, extending from the Pacific coast of Japan south to Hainan Island.

Recruitment has been documented in the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan coasts, as well as in low abundance in the Philippines' Northern Luzon Island, Thailand's Chao Phraya basin, and Cambodia. Since they are not influenced by currents that are necessary for the proper completion of the life cycle, it is believed that these vagrant people may not make a significant contribution to the population.

This species' eggs and preleptocephali were caught during new moon phases in the North Equatorial Current (NEC) along the western side of the West Mariana Ridge (14–17oN, 142–143oE) west of the Mariana Islands. The timings of the capture of egg and preleptocephali also coincided with the capture of breeding-conditioned adult eels from the same region, demonstrating that this species spawns in the region west of the Mariana Islands.

The possible spawning depth of adult eels has been suggested to lie in a vertically narrow depth stratum of 150–200 m, just below the upper limit of the thermocline sitting at 150 m. The NEC and Kuroshio Current are the predominant transport mechanisms for this species but the latitude of spawning events varies between years depending upon oceanic conditions. Spawning is thought to occur between April and August. The early, vagrant recruitment of Japanese glass eels occurs around the north-eastern coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines in late October and then in greater abundance in Taiwan in early November, with the main fishing season there being between November and February. After two to four weeks, recruitment occurs in the Fujian Province of China and the Pacific coast of southern Japan, where the main fishing season is between December and February.

• Movement Pattern: Full Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo/Gather

• Population Trend: Decreasing

• Population: ugh

• Locomotion: Aquatic

• Habitat: Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Warm Pond; Cold Pond; Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Warm Intertidal; Cold Intertidal; Kelp Forest; Coral Reef; Barrier Reef; Guyot; Neritic Zone (Warm); Neritic Zone (Cold); Pelagic Zone (Warm); Pelagic Zone (Cold); Benthic Zone.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Non-breeding): China; Hong Kong; Japan/Nihon; South Korea; Taiwan; Vietnam

  • Extant & Introduced (Non-breeding): Guam

  • Extant & Vagrant (non-breeding): Philippines; Thailand

  • Presence Uncertain & Vagrant: Cambodia; Micronesia, Federated States of

• Berbania/Hirawhassa: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Non-breeding): none

• Reinachos/Ityosel: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Non-breeding): none

• Thatrollwa: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Non-breeding): none

Coming soon

Coming soon

Past and Present Incidents - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a 

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

The Recollections of Queen Arianna - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

• Coming soon

Coming soon

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_eel

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/166184/176493270

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Japanese-Eel-1-1141574241