Eel, Common Eel

Family Anguillidae

REMARKS Maximum length 150 cm. The life story of this species is related on page 50. The colour of adults is variable. Some grow especially big and fat, rather like capons and perhaps because they do not mature sexually in the normal way. The Italian name capitone fits such an eel, although it is also used of any large specimen. Tiny eels are civelles or piballes in France; angulas in Spain; cedioli, cirioli, cieche, capillari and sementare in various parts of Italy.