The difference between eel and loach (detailed introduction)

Monopterus eel and loach are two common freshwater fishes. They have some differences in appearance, habits and distribution. The following is a detailed introduction to eels and loaches:

Eel (Anguilla anguilla): Appearance: The body of the eel is cylindrical, usually between 20 and 60 centimeters in length, but there are also large individuals that can reach more than 1 meter. They have smooth skin without scales, and their bodies are brown or grey-brown. The eel has obvious dorsal and pelvic fins, a cone-shaped tail, and the tail fin is connected to the trunk.

Habits: Monopterus eel is one of most eels and is a migratory eel. Their life cycle includes three stages: egg, juvenile eel and adult eel. Monopterus eels usually breed in European rivers and coastal waters, but they migrate across the ocean to the equatorial areas of the Atlantic to lay their eggs. They live mainly on the bottom and like to find food in the silt or sandy bottom areas of rivers and lakes.

Distribution: Monopterus eels are widely distributed in the North Atlantic and European rivers and their associated waters. They are found in both freshwater and saltwater environments in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus): Appearance: The body of the loach is long and slender, usually between 10 and 20 centimeters in length. Their bodies are covered with tiny scales and are tan or gray in color. The loach has a flat head with a downward-facing mouth, long whiskers and small eyes.

Habits: Loach is a bottom-dwelling fish that mainly inhabits freshwater rivers, lakes and swamps. They like to search for decaying organic matter at the bottom of the sediment, such as algae, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates. Loaches are resistant to low-oxygen waters and can even survive in hypoxic environments for quite a long time.

Distribution: Loach is native to East Asia, mainly distributed in China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. However, they have also been introduced to other areas, such as Europe, North America and Australia, where they have become invasive species.

To sum up, there are some differences between eel and loach in terms of appearance, habits and distribution. Monopterus eel is a large migratory fish with a slender body and lack of scales. It migrates across the ocean to reproduce. Loach is a smaller bottom-dwelling fish that likes to look for organic matter on the bottom in freshwater environments and has good low-oxygen tolerance. Their distribution areas are also different. Monopterus eels are mainly distributed in the North Atlantic and Europe, while loaches are native to East Asia but have been introduced to other areas.

animal tags： eel loach