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How long can eel larvae remain in the open ocean?
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eel
The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is found in habitats along the coast of eastern North America.
Eel larvae, known as leptocephali, can remain in the open ocean for varying lengths of time depending on the species. While tropical eels may spend approximately four to six months in this larval phase, temperate species can remain in the open ocean for upward of a year, with some instances lasting as long as two and a half years before they undergo metamorphosis.1