Kōrero: Eels

Elvers, Karāpiro spillway

Elvers, Karāpiro spillway

Once glass eels enter fresh water they become darker, and are known as elvers. They swim upriver to find a home in a river, stream, lake or pond. Waterfalls and rapids are no barrier – elvers have a remarkable climbing ability and can even ascend the walls of some hydroelectric dams. In many places ‘eel passes’ have been built to help them get through.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10053119
Photograph by Theo Stephens

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Paddy Ryan, 'Eels - Life cycle and breeding grounds', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/10127/elvers-karapiro-spillway (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Paddy Ryan, i tāngia i te 24 Sep 2007