PORT PHILLIP BAY


Largepore Conger 

Gnathophis macroporis Karmovskaya & Paxton, 2000

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 205-235
Anal fin spines/rays: 159-179
Caudal fin rays: -
Pectoral fin rays: 11-13
Ventral fin spines/rays: -
Lateral line: (pores to anus) 36-40
Vertebrae: 125-129

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:
Gnathophis
Species:
macroporis

General Description

Body long, slender, dorsal fin arising over middle of pectoral fins; tail tip reduced and somewhat stiffened; lateral line a simple row of pores; 3 preopercular pores; stomach black; jaw teeth conical, in several rows. Greenish-grey, underside of head and belly silvery white, dorsal and anal fins with narrow black edge. To 30 cm.

Biology

This species is known in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, from only 3 specimens taken in the late nineteenth century.

Habitat

Presumably on soft bottoms along the coast, in depths of 15-437 m.

Soft substrates

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

30 cm

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, Largepore Conger, Gnathophis macroporis, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 03 May 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6275

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