Conger are distinguished from moray eels by having pectoral fins (morays have none) and by the dark or black margin on their dorsal and anal fins. Conger eels are scaleless, and their dorsal fins originate over the tips of the pectorals.
Is a conger eel bigger than a moray eel?
They can be rivaled or marginally exceeded in length by the largest species of moray eel but these tend to be slenderer and thus weigh less than the larger congers.
What makes a moray eel different?
These bony fish lack scales. Even though moray eels appear to be smooth, they do have fins! They have a dorsal fin that connects all the way to the caudal and anal fins giving the eels a mohawk appearance. The body of moray eels is covered in a mucus layer, and in some species, this mucus is toxic.
What is another name for moray eel?
Moray eels are a family of eel. Sometimes they are also called by their Latin name Muraenidae. Moray eels can be found all over the world. There are 200 different species in 15 genera.
Is a conger eel an eel?
conger eel, any of about 100 species of marine eels of the family Congridae (order Anguilliformes). Congers are scaleless eels with large heads, large gill slits, wide mouths, and strong teeth. They are usually grayish to blackish, with paler bellies and black-edged fins.
Do conger eels bite?
Conger eels do bite and it can cause a lot of damage due to their many strong teeth. Are conger eels dangerous? Conger eels are dangerous to divers, as they have several rows of strong sharp teeth and have been known to attack and bite divers who swim near.
What is the biggest eel ever caught?
The largest eel ever caught was a reported 350 pound European conger that was captured in fishing nets outside of Iceland.
Has a moray eel ever killed a human?
Can a moray eel kill you? Technically, a moray eel could kill you. If the bite itself didn’t kill you, a secondary infection in the bite could be deadly. But examples of moray eels killing people by attacking them are virtually non-existent.
What happens if a moray eel bites you?
Moray eels aren’t poisonous — the most common complication from a moray eel bite is infection. More serious bites may require stitches, and some can cause long-term injury like the loss of a digit or body part. Try to avoid spending too much time near known eel habitats and keep your distance if you spot one.
Are moray eels friendly?
Although; its long and sharp teeth may frighten us, moray eels are relatively fearful fish. In front of danger, they will usually prefer to escape. They will only attack if they feel threatened.
Are moray eels aggressive?
With rows of sharp, dangerous teeth and a snake-like body with an elusive lifestyle, the sometimes shy moray eels are one of the coral reefs’ most effective predators. As menacing as they appear, moray eels are not considered aggressive but have been known to defend their lairs by quickly biting any perceived danger.
Why do moray eels have 2 sets of jaws?
The article identifies the moray eel as the only known vertebrate to use a second set of jaws to both restrain and transport prey.
Are moray eels poisonous to eat?
Moray eels can accumulate very high ciguatoxin (CTX) levels in the flesh and particularly the liver. Therefore, even the smaller ones can be toxic and the consumption of an average portion (particularly liver) can result in severe or fatal ciguatera.
What is the difference between conger and eel?
Conger eel are occasionally confused with the silver eel but the differences between the two species are fairly clear. The dorsal fin of the conger eels starts level with the pectoral fins, while the dorsal fin of the silver eel starts far back along the body.
How do you catch a conger eel?
Best Baits
Conger eels are best caught using whole live fish, hooked through the upper jaw behind the lip, with mackerel, pouting and whiting being the best options. Whole freshly killed fish can also be effective, with squid, herring, or pilchards working well. Crabs and lobsters can also be used to fish conger eels.
How deep do conger eels live?
2,900 feet
Conger eels have large heads, wide mouths, and strong teeth. Most species are gray. They are bottom-dwellers and can be found at depths of up to 2,900 feet.
Is it legal to catch eels in the UK?
Just under 900 fishermen are licensed to take eel in England and Wales. Many of those will only take a very small number in a season, for their own consumption, and the number of licensees is decreasing.
Where do conger eels spawn?
mid-Atlantic
Congers breed only once in their lives, at between 5 and 15 years of age (recent research indicates mainly at 5, with some living to 8). They migrate to deep water to spawn – some sources say as deep as 4000 m – in one or more areas between Gibraltar and the Azores in the mid-Atlantic.
What is conger mean?
large marine eel
conger in American English
(ˈkɑŋɡər) noun. a large marine eel, Conger conger, sometimes reaching a length of 10 ft. ( 3 m), used for food. any other eel of the family Congridae.
How much is conger eel worth?
Despite its great size, it turned out not to be too valuable – making about 70p per kilo at auction when it was sold, for a total of £40.
How big can a moray eel get?
They generally do not exceed a length of about 1.5 metres (5 feet), but one species, Thyrsoidea macrurus of the Pacific, is known to grow about 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) long.