What fish is the coveted elver a fry of?

The elver is the young or fry of the eel (Anguilla spp.), a fish with an elongated, snake-like body. Elvers are highly valued in gastronomy, especially in Spain, where they are considered a delicacy.

Elvers are caught when, after their journey from the Sargasso Sea, they reach the Atlantic coasts of Europe and Africa, where they travel up rivers to complete their development. Once their development is complete, sexually mature specimens return to the Sargasso Sea across the Atlantic, where they die after completing their life cycle.

There are a wide variety of elvers around the world, with Anguilla anguilla being the European species. Unfortunately, this species is critically endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution, and illegal smuggling. The export and import of the Anguilla anguilla is prohibited outside the European Union.

Angulas are very small, white or slightly transparent, and are usually sautéed with garlic and chili pepper in olive oil, although they can also be prepared in other ways. Their high economic value has led to the development of imitations called "gulas," a product made from surimi, a type of fish paste, and sold at a much lower price.