Can you tell the age of an eel by the length of its body?

It is not possible to accurately determine the age of an eel simply by measuring its body length. This is because the growth rate of eels varies depending on a variety of factors such as food availability, temperature, and even population density.

Eels are known for their complex life cycle, which involves spawning in the ocean and then migrating to freshwater rivers to mature. The length of time an eel spends in freshwater can vary greatly depending on the species and other environmental factors, further complicating attempts to estimate their age based on body length.

One method that has been used to estimate the age of eels involves counting the rings on their otoliths, small structures in the inner ear that can provide information about growth patterns. However, this method is not always reliable and requires sacrificing the eel to obtain the otoliths.

In summary, while the length of an eel's body can provide some general information about its age, it cannot be used as a reliable method for age determination.