Southern Conger, Conger verreauxi Haup, 1856
Scientific name: Conger verreauxi
Alternative name/s:
Common Conger-eel, Conger Eel, Southern Conger Eel
Common Conger-eel, Conger Eel, Southern Conger Eel
Similar species:
Eastern Conger, Conger wilsoni
Eastern Conger, Conger wilsoni
Click to enlarge image
A Southern Conger caught at a depth of 1.5 m, Clyde River, Batemans Bay, New South Wales, 1 March 2011.
Image: Bradley Coates
© Bradley Coates
© Bradley Coates
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Conger
- Species
- verreauxi
- Family
- Congridae
- Order
- Anguilliformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to a maximum length of 2 m.
Introduction
The Southern Conger is a nocturnal hunter that occurs in temperate marine waters of Australia.
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.
Distribution
The Southern Conger occurs in southern marine waters of Australia and New Zealand.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
The species feeds at night on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.
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.
