Brantevik Eel
 A puppeteer's interpretation. | |
| Other name(s) | Åle |
|---|---|
| Species | Anguilla Anguilla European Eel |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | Sargasso Sea |
| Died | August 7th 2014 (155 years) Brantevik, Sweden |
| Cause of death | Hyperthermia (alleged) |
| Years active |
|
| Known for | Long life |
| Owners | Samuel Nillson, Thomas Kjellman |
The Brantevik Eel (Swedish: Branteviksålen) (before 1859 – before 7 August 2014), also known as Åle, was a European eel (Anguilla anguilla) that is believed to have lived for more than 150 years.[1]
The eel was released into a well in the town of Brantevik, Sweden in 1859 by an eight-year-old boy, Samuel Nilsson. On 7 August 2014, Tomas Kjellman, the owner of the property, reported that the eel was found dead and partially decomposed.[2] The eel was sent to an expert to determine the eel's actual age.[3][4]
The eel's head, presumed lost, was eventually recovered in a freezer.[5] SVT's nature show Mitt i naturen extracted the eel from the well at one point, but put it back.[6][7]
Life
[edit]In the wild, American and European eels originate exclusively from the Sargasso Sea at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. During their juvenile stages as glass eels and leptocephali, these eels will travel to both Europe and North America to find freshwater, where they will spend the majority of their lives.[8] It is presumed that Åle traveled from the Sargasso sea to Brantevik prior to his capture.[9]
At the time of his capture, it was not uncommon to throw an eel into a well. Due to the lack of quality water treatment in 17th century Sweden, eels could be a satisfactory method to manage watery pests. Åle is alleged to have survived off of mosquitoes and similar insects.[9][10]
Samuel Nillson and his family dubbed the eel "Åle". The name is derived from the word "ål", or "eel" in Swedish.[9]
In 1904, an unnamed female eel was thrown into the well.[9] As late as 2023, the female eel was confirmed to be alive in the same well that Åle had perished.[10]
Physical Attributes
[edit]The average lifespan of a European Eel is up to 20 years, making the alleged age of the Brantevik eel a notable deviation. Due to his time in the darkness, it is reported that his eyes were far larger than a typical eel.[10] It is also reported that Åle would change from silver to gold during mating periods, but due to his captivity, his scales would return to silver after a period of time.[9]
In 2009, the Swedish television series Mitt i naturen reported that the eel was 53 centimeters in length.[10]
Speculation
[edit]Both European and American eels (Anguilla rostrata) participate in natal homing at the end of their lives.[11] During this process, both species of eel will return to the Sargasso Sea in order to complete their life cycle.[8] Since Åle’s well lacked proper egress, it is speculated that his inability to complete this cycle is the reason he did not die.
Despite his longevity, it is believed that Åle did not die from old age, but instead from overheating on a hot Summer day.[9]
Death
[edit]While hosting a traditional crayfish party in 2014, the well's owner invited his guests to view the famous eel.[12] Upon lifting the cover, however, it was found that Åle may have overheated and had partially decomposed. At the time of death, it was recorded that Åle had lived for 155 years. [9]
With proper analysis, the age of an eel can be determined by its otolith, a bone-like structure within the inner ear. This part of the ear retains ridges similar to the rings of a tree, making it a reliable way to quantify the age of some marine vertebrae. After his death, Åle's remains were transported for analysis.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Den 150-åriga brunnsålen i Brantevik finns på riktigt". Ystads Allehanda. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Nuwer, Rachel. "RIP, World's Oldest Eel". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ "Världens äldsta ål död". Ystadsallehanda. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Världens äldsta ål är död". Göteborgs Posten. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Försvunnet ålhuvud hittat – i frysen". Svenska Dagbladet. 12 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Åldrig ål åter åtrådd av tv". Ystadsallehanda. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Ålens evangelium". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 25 November 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ a b Chang, Yu-Lin K.; Feunteun, Eric; Miyazawa, Yasumasa; Tsukamoto, Katsumi (6 October 2020). "New clues on the Atlantic eels spawning behavior and area: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge hypothesis". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 15981. Bibcode:2020NatSR..1015981C. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72916-5. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7538991. PMID 33024193.
- ^ a b c d e f g François, Bill; Shugaar, Antony (2021). Eloquence of the sardine: extraordinary encounters beneath the sea (First U.S. ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-250-27243-0.
- ^ a b c d "The Brantevik Eel | British Sea Fishing". 12 April 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Wright, Rosalind M.; Piper, Adam T.; Aarestrup, Kim; Azevedo, Jose M. N.; Cowan, George; Don, Andy; Gollock, Matthew; Rodriguez Ramallo, Sara; Velterop, Randolph; Walker, Alan; Westerberg, Håkan; Righton, David (13 October 2022). "First direct evidence of adult European eels migrating to their breeding place in the Sargasso Sea". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 15362. Bibcode:2022NatSR..1215362W. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-19248-8. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 9562336. PMID 36229475.
- ^ a b "World's oldest eel dies in Swedish well". The Local Sweden. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
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