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Conger eel (Rhynchoconger flavus) — Congridae

Conger eel

Rhynchoconger flavus
Family: Congridae
LC · Least Concern

The Conger eel (Rhynchoconger flavus) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 150 cm.

Length
150 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
26–183 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic; coastal waters on soft bottoms.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The yellow conger is a conger eel (Congridae) from the western Atlantic Ocean. The species has an elongate, eel-like, yellowish body with continuous dorsal and anal fins merging with the tail and a pointed snout. It inhabits coastal waters on soft bottoms, where by day it partly buries itself and at night forages. As a bottom predator it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Conger eel?

The Conger eel has a snake-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a plain pattern. Yellowish eel-like body with fused fins; bottom hunter that buries itself during the day.

Where does the Conger eel live?

The Conger eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Western Atlantic; coastal waters on soft bottoms.

How big does the Conger eel get?

The Conger eel grows to a maximum of about 150 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Conger eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Conger eel is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Conger eel edible?

The Conger eel is rarely eaten.

More photos

Conger eel (Rhynchoconger flavus) — Congridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Dominick Porcelli, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Conger eel (Rhynchoconger flavus) — Congridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Remove "cropped" from file name and see original file (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Conger eel (Rhynchoconger flavus) — Congridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jeremy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Conger eel verified
Scientific name
Rhynchoconger flavus
Family
Congridae
Other names
Yellow Conger; Yellow conger verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
150 verified
Average length (cm)
30 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold
Pattern
Plain
Tail shape
Rounded
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
26 verified
Max depth (m)
183 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic; coastal waters on soft bottoms.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes and crustaceans sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Activity
Nocturnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Yellowish eel-like body with fused fins; bottom hunter that buries itself during the day. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Rhynchoconger

More from the family Congridae

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