European conger (Conger conger) fish species and information / pictures of European conger - Conger conger

European conger (Conger conger) fish species information

Scientific Name
Conger conger

Common Name
European conger

Biology
Found on rocky and sandy bottoms (Ref. 12382). Depth range from 0-500 m (Ref. 4453) and from 305-1171 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). It stays near the coast when young and moves toward deeper waters upon reaching adulthood (Ref. 5377). A nocturnal (Ref. 12382) predator of fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods (Ref. 6521). Marketed fresh and frozen. Eaten fried and baked (Ref. 9988). Like other species of the group, it reproduces only once in its life (Ref. 5377). Sexually mature at an age of 5-15 years. Spawn in summer in the Atlantic off Portugal and in the Mediterranean. Produces 3-8 million of eggs (Ref. 35388).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Conger and garden eels (Congridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Norway and Iceland to Senegal. Also in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Range

68°N - 12°N, 32°W - 42°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

1171 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 1171 m (Ref. 56504)

Trophic Level

4.29 s.e. 0.75 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

300 cm

Common Length

150 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5001 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (86 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.06; tm=5-15 (female tm>10); Fec=3,000,000)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30911)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated