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• snout short,mouth at front,large lips
• ll: all body
• nostrils: at eye level
• with pectorals
• dorsal, anal and tail fins continuous

CONGER EELS, GARDEN-EELS

Congers have a typical eel-shaped body with a small gill opening, and the tail fin is continuous with the dorsal and anal fins, well developed lips; large eyes; lateral gill opening; origin of the dorsal fin above the pectoral; and a complete lateral line. hey differ noticeably from moray eels in having pectoral fins and a body that is nearly round at the front rather than compressed.

The family is divisible into three subfamilies with approximately 29 genera and about 119 species worldwide in tropical to temperate areas, and 12 members of 8 genera in the TEP: Congrinae (with well developed pectoral fins; about 25 genera, including single species of Rhynchoconger and Gnathophis in our region); Heterocongrinae, commonly known as garden eels (pectoral fins tiny or absent; four genera, with two genera and five species in our region); and Bathymyrinae (pectorals well developed; about five genera, with single species of Ariosoma, Chiloconger and Paraconger in our region). The reef- dwelling congers are generally nocturnal predators of fishes and crustaceans. The garden eels are found in large colonies that feed exclusively on plankton that is picked from passing currents. The flesh of larger conger eels is considered good eating.

References

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