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Where do most eel species live?

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American eel (Anguilla rostrata) — eel The American eel (*Anguilla rostrata*) is found in habitats along the coast of eastern North America.

Eels are a diverse group of fish found in all seas, ranging from coastal regions to mid-depths. While their habitats vary by species, they are particularly diverse in tropical seas.12

It is important to clarify that while some eels, such as those in the family Anguillidae, are known as "freshwater eels," they do not spend their entire lives in fresh water. These species are catadromous, meaning they grow to maturity in fresh water but must migrate to the ocean to spawn and die. Conversely, many other eel species, such as morays and congers, live their entire lives in marine environments, inhabiting areas like rock crevices or tropical reefs.314

Regardless of their adult habitat, all eels begin their lives in the open ocean, where they undergo an extended larval phase known as the leptocephalus stage before metamorphosing into their juvenile form.42