PORT PHILLIP BAY


Southern Conger 

Conger verreauxi Kaup, 1856

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 331-347
Anal fin spines/rays: 238-265
Caudal fin rays: 9
Pectoral fin rays: 17-18
Ventral fin spines/rays: -
Lateral line: (pores to anus) 40-44
Vertebrae: 157-165

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other mersitics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Body usually very long, slender, with long-based dorsal and anal fins continuous with the tail fin (if present) in all but one species. All species lack pelvic fins, and some groups lack pectoral fins. Scales are usually absent, or if present, are embedded in skin. All species pass through a pelagic, ribbon- or leaf-like larval stage called a leptocephalus larva.

Family level detail.
A large family of small to medium-sized eels found in tropical and temperate seas worldwide. All have well-developed pectoral and tail fins, a prominent lateral line and a slit-like gill opening. These bottom-dwelling eels are found in range of habitats from tide pools to the bottom of the deep sea.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Anguilliformes
Family:
Congridae
Genus:
Conger
Species:
verreauxi

General Description

Body long, slender yet robust; dorsal and anal fins continuous with the pointed tail, pectoral fins prominent; dorsal fin arising above pectoral fin . Dark grey to blue-black above, underside of head not pale. To 2 m.

Biology

This eel hides in caves and crevices during the day, and is active at night feeding on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. It sometimes invades cray pots to acquire an easy meal.

Habitat

Rocky reefs in bays and along the coast, in depths of 1-120 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Eels

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

2 m

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Southern Conger, Conger verreauxi, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jun 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7698

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