While they look very different from other fish, they share the key characteristics of ray-finned fishes, such as:
* Bony skeletons: Unlike cartilaginous fishes like sharks and rays, eels have bony skeletons.
* Fins supported by rays: Their fins are supported by thin, bony structures called rays.
* Scales: Eels have small, embedded scales that are often difficult to see.
However, they are also grouped into a suborder called Anguilliformes, which is the suborder of eels.