News Animals

Eels may not take most direct route in epic ocean-crossing spawning runs

Meandering swims mean some fish may start journey one breeding season, spawn the next, tracking data suggest

European eel

LONG HAUL  European eels (shown) may not all rush to migrate for their once-in-a-lifetime chance to spawn. Analysis of tag data finds unexpected slow wandering.

Bernard DUPONT/Flickr  (CC BY-SA 2.0) 

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Storied spawning runs of European eels may not be an en masse push to a mating site.