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Story: Eels

Glass eels

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Glass eels

The young eels that arrive from the sea at river mouths are known as glass eels, because they are transparent. Between July and December each year, millions arrive after drifting and swimming thousands of kilometres from the tropics. They are typically 5.5–6.5 centimetres long.

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NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

by Nelson Boustead

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How to cite this page

Paddy Ryan, Eels – Life cycle and breeding grounds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10126/glass-eels (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paddy Ryan, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Melissa
24 February 2012
cool website very weird but very cool.......xxxxxxxx