Cave eel

[PeteHall]

Here's a short clip of an eel sighted by Chris Jewel during our trip to Otter Hole on 2nd June; this was seen in Sump 7, which is over 1km into the cave.

Previously, fish have been reported in Sump 5 (see here for example but also recorded in dive logs from the 90's), but have not previously been seen further upstream.

Here are a couple of screenshots:

 

[Pitlamp]

That's interesting - what size?

When you get your (next to the last ever) CDG Newsletter you'll see a report about a monster eel encountered in a Dales sump recently, completely depigmented.

 

[PeteHall]

I didn't see it myself, but based on the context, I reckon it's close to 1m in length

 

[PeteHall]

Looks to be one of these: https://www.unlockingthesevern.co.uk/our-river/european-eel/

 

[Pitlamp]

Hm, if it's that big it's very big! Must be time to fulfill its destiny and take that holiday in the Sargasso Sea.

The one we found in the Dales was 600 mm long but extremely fat (i.e. different proportions from the one in that video clip). It looked really weird due to total lack of pigment; I've never seen anything like it. We named ours "Eric(a)" as it's not possible to tell if it's a girl or a boy. It kindly posed next to the line, giving an idea of scale - hence the size estimate was possible with confidence.

Hopefully when Chris sees this he'll make comment as well.

 

[Flotsam]

That's interesting - what size?

When you get your (next to the last ever) CDG Newsletter you'll see a report about a monster eel encountered in a Dales sump recently, completely depigmented.

Size doesn't matter

 

[tomferry]

Well worth watching for you diver chaps he also did 1 about a diver getting bit in England also I’ll have a fish around for it

 

[PeteHall]

I didn't see it myself, but based on the context, I reckon it's close to 1m in length

Looks like I've massively overestimated it from the footage. Chris reckons it was more like 7-10 inches

 

[Pitlamp]

Size doesn't matter

It does when the blighter's between you and the entrance - and not showing any signs of giving in!

That video which Tom Ferry uploaded (for which thanks) is actually very interesting and may even have relevance to the extraordinarily sized specimen which was eyeing me up for tea.

 

[Pitlamp]

Looks like I've massively overestimated it from the footage. Chris reckons it was more like 7-10 inches

That's more like the usual size of them in sumps (e.g. in Dentdale). But yours was a very long way in, which is interesting.

 

[tomferry]

I was watching a old episode last night and eels was on it , Jeremy said their blood is toxic and would harm a dog . Also the average migration age from a lake in Europe is 93 and the oldest the scientist has recorded their is 104!

Fresh water ones their have reached 8 feet and 150 pounds similar circumference to man’s thigh.

 

[Pitlamp]

I wish you'd not posted that. We'll be looking over our shoulders all the time now in that sump!