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Differences in head shape of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.)
Author(s) -
Proman J. M.,
Reynolds J. D.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2400.2000.007004349.x
Subject(s) - predation , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , biology , zoology , head (geology) , range (aeronautics) , ecology , materials science , paleontology , composite material
Differences in eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), head shape were the result of greater increases in head width, rather than changes in head length. The ratio of head width:total length (HW:TL) increased significantly ( t ‐test, P < 0.05) from the glass‐yellow eel stage. Cultured yellow eels were exclusively narrow headed (mean HW:TL = 0.027, range = 0.023–0.032), while wild yellow eels displayed an array of head shapes (mean HW:TL = 0.033, range = 0.023–0.046). Therefore, broad heads (HW:TL 0.033) occurred only among wild yellow eels sampled and may have resulted from diet. Cultured yellow eels consumed only small pellet material. Of wild yellow eels stomachs containing food, 78% of broad‐headed eels consumed large and/or hard‐bodied organisms (e.g. beetles, fish, molluscs and Notonecta sp.), while 83% of narrow‐headed eels consumed exclusively small/soft‐bodied prey (e.g. amphipods and chironomids).