Southern Conger, Conger verreauxi Haup, 1856

Scientific name: Conger verreauxi
Alternative name/s:
Common Conger-eel, Conger Eel, Southern Conger Eel
Similar species:
Eastern Conger, Conger wilsoni
Southern Conger, Conger verreauxi 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

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.

Feeding and diet

The species feeds at night on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.

References

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. 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.