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Conger eel (Paraconger caudilimbatus) — Congridae

Conger eel

Paraconger caudilimbatus
Family: Congridae
LC · Least Concern

The Conger eel (Paraconger caudilimbatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 51 cm.

Length
51 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–75.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The margintail conger is a conger eel of the family Congridae from the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The species grows to about 51 cm and has an elongate, snake-like, grey-brown body with a dark margin along the fins and tail tip, to which the name refers. It lives in neritic waters of the continental shelf, often buried in sand or mud bottoms with only the head protruding. As a nocturnal bottom hunter it feeds on small fishes, crustaceans and worms. Unlike morays it is not aggressive. 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 brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Conger eel live?

The Conger eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Conger eel get?

The Conger eel grows to a maximum of about 51 cm. On average the species is around 35 cm.

Is the Conger eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Conger eel is harmless to humans.

Is the Conger eel edible?

The Conger eel is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartstaart-conger sourced
English name
Conger eel verified
Scientific name
Paraconger caudilimbatus
Family
Congridae
Other names
Margintail conger; Margintail Conger verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
51.0 verified
Average length (cm)
35.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
75.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Paraconger

More from the family Congridae

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