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Eel Biology pp 331–349Cite as

The Physiology of Silvering in Anguillid Eels: Androgens and Control of Metamorphosis from the Yellow to Silver Stage

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Abstract

The onset of puberty heralds a significant change in the life of anguillid eels. The hypothalamo-hypophysial-gonadal axis is activated, and a suite of morphological, biochemical, and behavioral changes occurs in preparation for a long return migration to specific, but generally poorly known, oceanic spawning areas. These changes, collectively referred to as “silvering,” are dramatic enough to be recognized not simply as the development of secondary sexual characteristics but as components of a true metamorphosis (Petersen 1896; D’Ancona 1960; LecomteFinger 1990). The nature of these changes and the physiological mechanisms that mediate them form the subject matter of this chapter. The term silvering is used here to refer to the processes that transform an immature, feeding (yellow) eel into a maturing, migratory (silver) eel.

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Author notes

  1. P. Mark Lokmanl

    Present address: Department of Marine Science, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

  2. Detlef H. Rohr

    Present address: , City Campus, Bldg. 51 Level 6, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne Vic, 3001, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 316 Great King Street, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    P. Mark Lokmanl

  2. Department of Marine Science, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Graham Young

  3. Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Detlef H. Rohr & Peter S. Davie

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Katsumi Aida Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 1-15-1 Minamidai, 164-8639, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Katsumi Tsukamoto Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  3. Division of Marine Biosciences, Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minatomachi, 041-8611, Hakodate, Japan

    Kohei Yamauchi Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

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Lokmanl, P.M., Rohr, D.H., Davie, P.S., Young, G. (2003). The Physiology of Silvering in Anguillid Eels: Androgens and Control of Metamorphosis from the Yellow to Silver Stage. In: Aida, K., Tsukamoto, K., Yamauchi, K. (eds) Eel Biology. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-65907-5_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-65907-5_23

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