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Bristletooth conger (Xenomystax congroides) — Congridae

Bristletooth conger

Xenomystax congroides
Family: Congridae

The Bristletooth conger (Xenomystax congroides) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 88 cm.

Length
87.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
140.0–825.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The bristletooth conger is a deep-sea eel (Congridae) of the continental slope in the western Atlantic. The species grows to about 80 cm and has an elongate, grey-brown, eel-like body with a pointed head and jaws bearing fine, bristly teeth. As a bottom-dweller of the deep water it hunts small fish and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bristletooth conger?

The Bristletooth conger has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Bristletooth conger live?

The Bristletooth conger lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bristletooth conger get?

The Bristletooth conger grows to a maximum of about 88 cm.

Is the Bristletooth conger dangerous to humans?

No, the Bristletooth conger is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Borsteltand-congeraal sourced
English name
Bristletooth conger sourced
Scientific name
Xenomystax congroides
Family
Congridae

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
87.6 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
140.0 verified
Max depth (m)
825.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Xenomystax

More from the family Congridae

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