Congridae

Conger and garden eels
Conger conger
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Suborder: Congroidei
Family: Congridae
Kaup, 1856
Subfamilies

Bathymyrinae
Congrinae
Heterocongrinae

The Congridae are the family of conger and garden eels. Congers are valuable and often large food fishes, while garden eels live in colonies, all protruding from the sea floor after the manner of plants in a garden (thus the name).[1] The family includes over 180 species in 32 genera.

The European conger, Conger conger, is the largest of the family and of the Anguilliformes order that includes it; it has been recorded at up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in length and weighing 350 lb (160 kg).[2]

Congrids are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas across the world. Clear distinguishing features among congrids are few; they all lack scales, and most possess pectoral fins. They feed on crustaceans and small fish, and unlike some other eels, do not migrate to breed.[3]

Genera

Family Congridae

See also

References

  1. ↑ McCosker, John F. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N., eds. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
  2. ↑ British Conger Club
  3. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2008). "Congridae" in FishBase. December 2008 version.
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