1. European eel (Anguilla anguilla): European eels are catadromous, meaning they migrate from freshwater rivers and streams to the ocean to reproduce. They reach sexual maturity at around 10-15 years of age and then undertake a long migration to the Sargasso Sea, located between Bermuda and the Caribbean. In the Sargasso Sea, they spawn and then die. The eggs hatch into small eel larvae called leptocephali, which drift with the ocean currents back to European waters. The leptocephali then transform into glass eels and migrate upstream into freshwater systems to grow and mature.
2. American eel (Anguilla rostrata): American eels also exhibit catadromous behavior. They reach sexual maturity at around 10-20 years of age and migrate from freshwater habitats in eastern North America to the Sargasso Sea to reproduce. The migration, spawning, and larval development process are similar to that of the European eel.
3. Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica): Japanese eels are also catadromous and follow a reproductive pattern similar to European and American eels. They migrate from freshwater rivers and lakes in Japan, Korea, and China to the North Pacific Ocean to spawn.
It's important to note that some eel species, such as the moray eel and conger eel, exhibit different reproductive strategies and may reproduce in their respective habitats without undertaking extensive migrations.