Congridae

Conger eels ( congers )

The conger eels ( congers ) are a family from the order of eel-like ( Anguilliformes ). It consists of the very different subfamilies conger ( Congrinae ) Bathymyrinae and almost sessile living eels ( Heterocongrinae ). Conger eels live from shallow waters to the deep sea.

Features

All conger eels are scaleless and have a far -reaching behind the eye foot column. In most species the pelvic fins are present.

Fossil record

The first conger eels are known in fossil strata of the Upper Cretaceous of Lebanon with the genus Enchelion. From the lower Oligocene Pavelichthys dates from the northern Caucasus. An important archaeological site is the North Italian Monte Bolca Formation, which originated from deposits of the Tethys during the Eocene. From it the conger Bolycus and Voltaconger have been described. Of the recent sea eels of the genus Conger there are fossils from the Eocene of Europe, North America and New Zealand.

System

There are three subfamilies, 32 genera and about 160 species.

  • Bathymyrinae, fin rays of the dorsal and anal fins are not segmented, well- developed pectoral fins, posterior nasal openings at mid- eye level. Ariosoma Swainson, 1838
  • Bathymyrus Alcock, 1889
  • Chiloconger Myers & Wade, 1941
  • Kenyaconger Smith & Karmovskaya, 2003
  • Parabathymyrus Mr. Kamohara, 1938
  • Paraconger Kanazawa, 1961
  • Poeciloconger Günther, 1872
  • Acromycter Smith & Kanazawa, 1977
  • Bassanago Whitley, 1948
  • Bathycongrus Ogilby, 1898
  • Bathyuroconger Fowler, 1934
  • Blachea Karrer & Smith, 1980
  • Conger Bosc, 1817
  • Congrhynchus Fowler, 1934
  • Congriscus Jordan & Hubbs, 1925
  • Congrosoma Garman, 1899
  • Diploconger Kotthaus, 1968
  • Gavialiceps Alcock, 1889
  • Gnathophis Kaup, 1860
  • Japonoconger Asano, 1958
  • Lumiconger Castle & Paxton, 1984
  • Macrocephenchelys Fowler, 1934
  • Paruroconger Blache & Bauchot, 1976
  • Promyllantor Alcock, 1890
  • Pseudophichthys Roule, 1915
  • Rhynchoconger Jordan & Hubbs, 1925
  • Scalanago Whitley, 1935
  • Uroconger Kaup, 1856
  • Xenomystax Gilbert, 1891
  • Gorgasia Meek & Hildebrand, 1923
  • Heteroconger Bleeker, 1868
Teleostei Taxonomic rank#All ranks Elopomorpha Caucasus Mountains FishBase
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