Identification

Physical appearance and colour depends on life stage.

Adults

• Snake lake body that has one single continuous dorsal fin that starts a 1/3 of its body along its back and wraps around the tail.
• Dark green colour back with lighter coloured belly
• Silver eels- adults with a white or cream-coloured belly

Larvae

• Leptocephali are transparent and flat and resemble a willow leaf in shape
• Glass eel are small transparent with a snake like body, almost look ee through

Juvenile

• Yellow eels- colouration varies from yellow to green or olive-brown on the belly with a darker shade on the back.

Significance

• Tradional food soucre for the Mi’kmaw people
• Eel skins were used as braces and bandages. Juniper balsam and eel skin were used to make poultice for sprains as well.
• Eels have many spiritual qualities as it is frequently found in legends and regular use as a ceremonial offering.

Status

• Not listed under the Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act
• Threatened by COSEWIC in 2012
• No status under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA)

Threats

• Culverts, dams and weirs that create barriers to fish passage
• Habitat degradation
• Overfishing
• Water pollution especially toxin substances
• Introduction of an exotic swim bladder nematode parasite- Anguillicoloides crassus