Common Snook vs European Eel
Centropomus undecimalis compared with Anguilla anguilla
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Common Snook | European Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropomus undecimalis | Anguilla anguilla |
| Order | Carangaria/misc | Anguilliformes |
| Family | Centropomidae | Anguillidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Common Snook | European Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 140.0 cm | 133.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 24.3 kg | 6.6 kg |
| Color | Pale golden-olive to grayish-brown back with silvery flanks; a bold black lateral stripe runs from the operculum to the tail; belly pale yellow-white; fins are yellowish with a dusky posterior dorsal fin. | Yellow-olive to olive-brown back and sides in the freshwater 'yellow eel' phase; maturing 'silver eel' phase develops a dark gray-black back with a silvery-white belly and enlarged eyes. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Common Snook | European Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater & Saltwater | Freshwater & Saltwater |
| Depth Range | ?-22m | 0-700m |
| Geographic Range | Western Atlantic from South Carolina south through the Gulf of Mexico, entire Caribbean, and along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central America to Brazil. … | Spawns in the Sargasso Sea and larvae drift to European and North African coasts on the Gulf Stream. Adults inhabit rivers, lakes, and coastal waters … |
| Habitat | Neritic, estuaries | Estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Common Snook | European Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | Yes | Yes |
| Fight Rating | 8/10 | — |
| World Record | — | — |
| Mercury Level | — | — |
Cuisine & Edibility
Common Snook
Sweet, firm white flesh with a mild, clean flavor; low fat and large flakes. Highly regarded as table fare in Florida and the Caribbean; excellent grilled, blackened, or pan-seared.
European Eel
Rich, fatty flesh with a distinctive earthy flavor; classically smoked, jellied (in Britain), or grilled kabayaki-style. Critically Endangered — consumption strongly discouraged; population down 90%.
Species Overview
Common Snook
The common snook is a prized inshore game fish found in tropical western Atlantic waters. It is highly sensitive to cold water and cannot survive temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius. Its lateral line is distinctive — a bold black stripe.
European Eel
The European eel undertakes one of nature's most remarkable migrations, traveling 5,000 km from European rivers to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die. Despite centuries of study, its breeding grounds were only recently confirmed.