The Congridae are the family of conger and

garden eel The garden eels are the subfamily Heterocongrinae in the conger eel family Congridae. The majority of garden eels live in the Indo-Pacific, but species are also found in warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean (including the Caribbean) and East Paci ...

s. Congers are valuable and often large

food fish Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ingest ...

es, while garden eels live in colonies, all protruding from the sea floor after the manner of plants in a garden (thus the name). The family includes over 180 species in 32 genera. The

European conger The European conger (''Conger conger'') is a species of conger of the family Congridae. It is the heaviest eel in the world and native to the northeast Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea. Description and behavior European congers have an ...

, ''Conger conger'', is the largest of the family and of the

Anguilliformes Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes (), which consists of eight suborders, 19 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stag ...

order that includes it; it has been recorded at up to in length and weighing .British Conger Club
Congrids are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas around the world. Clear distinguishing features among congrids are few; they all lack scales, and most possess

pectoral fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...

s. They feed on crustaceans and small fish, and unlike some other eels, do not migrate to breed.

Genera

Family Congridae * Subfamily Bathymyrinae ** ''

Ariosoma ''Ariosoma'' is a genus of marine congrid eels. Species Currently recognized species in this genus: * '' Ariosoma anago'' (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Silvery conger) * '' Ariosoma anagoides'' ( Bleeker, 1853) (Sea conger) * '' Ariosoma anale' ...

'' (27 species) ** ''

Bathymyrus ''Bathymyrus'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. It currently contains the following species: * '' Bathymyrus echinorhynchus'' Alcock, 1889 * '' Bathymyrus simus'' J. L. B. Smith, 1965 * '' Bathymyrus smithi'' Castle A cast ...

'' (three species) ** '' Chiloconger'' (two species) ** '' Kenyaconger'' (one species) ** ''

Parabathymyrus ''Parabathymyrus'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species There are currently 6 recognized species in this genus: * '' Parabathymyrus brachyrhynchus'' ( Fowler, 1934) * '' Parabathymyrus fijiensis'' Karmovskaya, 2004 * '' Parabath ...

'' (five species) ** ''

Paraconger ''Paraconger'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. It currently contains the following species: * '' Paraconger californiensis'' Kanazawa, 1961 (Californian conger) * '' Paraconger caudilimbatus'' ( Poey, 1867) (Margintail conger) * '' ...

'' (seven species) * Subfamily

Congrinae The Congrinae are a subfamily of eels in the family Congridae. Genera

* ''Acromycter'' Smith et Kanazawa, 1977. * ''Bassanago'' Whitley, 1948. * ''Bathycongrus'' Ogilby, 1898. * ''Bathyuroconger'' Fowler, 1934. * ''Blachea'' Karrer et Smith, ...

** ''

Acromycter ''Acromycter'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species There are currently five recognized species in this genus: * '' Acromycter alcocki'' ( C. H. Gilbert & Cramer, 1897) * '' Acromycter atlanticus'' D. G. Smith, 1989 * '' Acromyc ...

'' (five species) ** ''

Bassanago ''Bassanago'' is a genus of marine congrid eels. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * '' Bassanago albescens'' ( Barnard, 1923) (Hairy conger) * '' Bassanago bulbiceps'' Whitley, 1948 (Swollen-headed conger eel ...

'' (four species) ** ''

Bathycongrus ''Bathycongrus'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species There are currently 22 recognized species in this genus: * ''Bathycongrus aequoreus'' ( C. H. Gilbert & Cramer, 1897) * ''Bathycongrus bertini'' (Poll, 1953) * ''Bathycongrus ...

'' (22 species) ** '' Bathyuroconger'' (two species) ** ''

Blachea ''Blachea'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * '' Blachea longicaudalis'' Karmovskaya, 2004 * '' Blachea xenobranchialis'' Karrer Karrer is a surname. Notable peopl ...

'' (two species) ** ''

Castleichthys ''Castleichthys'' is a genus in the conger eel family, Congridae. It contains the single species ''Castleichthys auritus'', the eared conger. The type specimen was found in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia Australia, off ...

'' (one species) ** ''

Conger ''Conger'' ( ) is a genus of marine congrid eels. It includes some of the largest types of eels, ranging up to 2 m (6 ft) or more in length, in the case of the European conger. Large congers have often been observed by divers during t ...

'' (14 species) ** ''

Congrhynchus ''Congrhynchus talabonoides'' is a species of eel in the family Congridae. It is the only member of its genus. It is only found in the Pacific Ocean near the Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republ ...

'' (one species) ** ''

Congriscus ''Congriscus'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species There are currently three recognized species in this genus: * ''Congriscus maldivensis'' (Norman, 1939) * ''Congriscus marquesaensis'' Karmovskaya, 2004 * ''Congriscus megastomu ...

'' (three species) ** ''

Congrosoma ''Congrosoma evermanni'', or the Evermann's conger, is a species of eel in the family Congridae. It is the only member of its genus. It is only found in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panam� ...

'' (one species) ** ''

Diploconger ''Diploconger polystigmatus'', or the headband conger, is a species of eel in the family Congridae. It is the only member of its genus. It is only found in the Indian Ocean off the western Pacific Ocean at depths of 37–215 meters. References

'' (one species) ** ''

Gnathophis ''Gnathophis'' is a genus of marine congrid eels. Species There are currently 27 recognized species in this genus: * ''Gnathophis andriashevi'' Karmovskaya, 1990 * '' Gnathophis asanoi'' Karmovskaya, 2004 * ''Gnathophis bathytopos'' D. G. Sm ...

'' (27 species) ** ''

Japonoconger ''Japonoconger'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species There are currently three recognized species in this genus: * ''Japonoconger africanus'' (Poll, 1953) * ''Japonoconger caribbeus'' D. G. Smith & Kanazawa, 1977 * ''Japonocong ...

'' (three species) ** ''

Lumiconger ''Lumiconger arafura'', or luminous conger, is a species of eel in the family Congridae. It is the only member of its genus. It is only found in the Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, co ...

'' (one species) ** ''

Macrocephenchelys ''Macrocephenchelys'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * ''Macrocephenchelys brachialis'' Fowler, 1934 * ''Macrocephenchelys brevirostris The Rubbernose conger (''M ...

'' (two species) ** ''

Poeciloconger ''Ariosoma kapala'' (common name - mottled conger) is an eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels).Promyllantor'' (three species) ** ''

Pseudophichthys ''Pseudophichthys splendens'', the purple-mouthed conger, is a species of eel in the family Congridae. It is the only member of its genus. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oce ...

'' (one species) ** ''

Rhynchoconger ''Rhynchoconger'' is a genus of eels in the family Congridae. Species * '' Rhynchoconger ectenurus'' ( D. S. Jordan & R. E. Richardson, 1909) * '' Rhynchoconger flavus'' ( Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896) (Yellow conger) * '' Rhynchoconger gracilior ...

'' (seven species) ** ''

Scalanago ''Scalanago lateralis'', or the ladder eel is a species of eel in the family Congridae 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 ...

'' (one species) ** '' Uroconger'' (four species) ** '' Xenomystax'' (five species) * Subfamily

Heterocongrinae The garden eels are the subfamily Heterocongrinae in the conger eel family Congridae. The majority of garden eels live in the Indo-Pacific, but species are also found in warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean (including the Caribbean) and East Pacif ...

(garden eels) ** ''

Gorgasia ''Gorgasia'' is one of the two genera that belong to the subfamily ''Heterocongrinae'' (common name: garden eels). This genus is classified by the behavioral pattern of burrowing 75% of their bodies in the sandy substrate they live in and protrud ...

'' (14 species) ** ''

Heteroconger ''Heteroconger'' is a genus of marine congrid eels. These small, slender garden eels live in groups where each individual has its own burrow. Usually, only the head and front half of the body is visible. The greatest species richness is in the ...

'' (21 species)

References

Marine fish families Eels Ray-finned fish families {{Anguilliformes-stub

Genera

See also

References