Anguilla anguilla, commonly known as the European eel, is a species of eel found in the waters of Europe and North Africa. It is characterized by its elongated, snake-like body and can grow up to 1.5 meters in length. The species is known for its unique life cycle, which includes a long migration from freshwater rivers to the Sargasso Sea for spawning. The European eel is a catadromous fish, meaning it spends most of its life in freshwater but returns to the ocean to reproduce. This species has faced significant population declines due to overfishing, habitat loss, and barriers to migration, leading to its classification as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).