ANIMAL SPECIES:Southern Conger-eel, Conger verreauxi Haup, 1856
Fisherman, Kevin Hegner faxed a copy of the top two photographs to the Australian Museum for identification. Unfortunately it was not possible to identify the fish from the fax so Kevin brought the frozen specimen to the Fish Section for identification.
Identification
Fisherman, Kevin Hegner faxed a copy of the top two photographs to the Australian Museum for identification. Unfortunately it was not possible to identify the fish from the fax so Kevin brought the frozen specimen to the Fish Section for identification.
The fish was a 104 cm long Southern Conger-eel, caught on hook and line at The Peak, New South Wales, at a depth of 110 m. It is now stored in the Australian Museum Fish Collection (AMS I. 38901-001).
The distinctive bands of teeth can be seen in the bottom image.
Size range
The species grows to a maximum length of 2 m.Similar Species
It resembles the Short-finned Conger-eel.Distribution
The Southern Conger-eel occurs in southern waters of Australia and New Zealand.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
The species feeds at night on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.
Classification
- Species:
- verreauxi
- Genus:
- Conger
- Family:
- Congridae
- 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.
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