Animal Species:Southern Conger, Conger verreauxi Haup, 1856
The Southern Conger is a nocturnal hunter that occurs in temperate marine waters of Australia.
Southern Conger from Batemans Bay
Bradley Coates
© Bradley Coates
Alternative Name/s
Common Conger-eel, Conger Eel, Southern Conger Eel
Identification
The species closely resembles the Eastern Conger, Conger wilsoni. The position of the dorsal fin origin can be used to distinguish between these species. In the Eastern Conger the dorsal fin starts slightly behind the pectoral fin tip while in the Southern Conger the dorsal fin begins above the tip of the pectoral fin. Other differences include the number of vertebrae, lateral line pores and dorsal fin ray counts.
Size range
The species grows to a maximum length of 2 m.
Similar Species
Eastern Conger, Conger wilsoni
Distribution
The Southern Conger occurs in southern marine waters of Australia and New Zealand.
Distribution by collection data
Ozcam map of Southern Conger specimens in the Australian Museums.
Feeding and Diet
The species feeds at night on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.
Classification
- Species:
- verreauxi
- Genus:
- Conger
- Family:
- Congridae
- Order:
- Anguilliformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Castle, P.H.J. in Gomon, M.F. J.C.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
Mark McGrouther
, Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags fishes, ichthyology, Southern Conger-eel, Conger verreauxi, Congridae, Southern Conger, eel, nocturnal hunter, temperate water, marine, Common Conger-eel, Conger Eel, Southern Conger Eel, > 1m, grey,
