Conger Eel

Conger eels vary widely in size and weight, though most are of a similar color. Some species are used in cooking, while the fishing of others is discouraged. Fishing for conger eels has been documented as far back as the 12th century. Their mysterious mating habits and preference for deep waters mean there is much more yet to be learned by science about these fish! Congers can be dangerous to divers because they like to bite.

6 Incredible Conger Eel Facts!

• Conger eels can swim in reverse and have hundreds of bones in their spines.
• Congers are practically blind and hunt primarily by scent.
• Conger eels are aggressive, and their bite is very strong.
• Congers enjoy living in waters almost 3000 feet deep.
• Congers can live out of the water for several hours.
• Conger eels are found in most of the world’s oceans, particularly the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

Conger Eel Classification and Scientific Name

Conger is the genus of 14 different species, and each one has its own scientific name. Some of the more common conger eels include the European conger (Conger conger), the grey conger (Conger esculentus), and the American conger (Conger oceanicus).

Conger Eel Species

Previously, there were 16 species of conger eels, but two of the species, namely the sea conger and the bandtooth conger, have since been relegated to their own genus, Ariosoma. The 14 remaining species of conger eels are:

• Conger triporiceps (manytooth conger)
• Conger verreauxi (southern conger)
• Conger wilsoni (Cape conger)
• Conger erebennus (Anaconger)
• Conger esculentus (grey conger)
• Conger marginatus (Hawaiian Mustache Conger)
• Conger myriaster (whitespotted conger)
• Conger oceanicus (American conger)
• Conger cinereus (longfin African conger)
• Conger conger (European conger) — This is the largest conger eel species.
• Conger orbignianus (Argentine conger)
• Conger philippinus
• Conger oligoporus
• Conger macrocephalus

Conger Eel Appearance

Much like other species of eels, conger eels have a long, thin, snake-like body, with a wide, prominent snout, and many strong, sharp teeth which often grow in several rows. Congers have long fins that run along the top and often the bottom of their bodies. Since there are 14 different recognized varieties of conger, their color and size range a lot. A conger eel can be anywhere between 5 to 10 feet in length and weigh from 10 pounds up to 160 pounds. A conger eel can be white, gray, black, or brown, and its snout can be pointed or snubbed. The largest European conger ever caught was 9.8 feet long and weighed over 350 lbs.

Conger Eel Distribution, Population, and Habitat

Conger eels are found in most of the world’s oceans, especially the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Populations vary by species. Japan consumes over 70% of the world’s eel catch, primarily freshwater eels, leading to lower numbers in that region and prompting conservation efforts. Overall, they are considered of least concern. Conger eels are bottom feeders who prefer to burrow into the mud when not hunting. They particularly enjoy living around reefs, caves, and shipwrecks in deeper coastal waters.

Conger Eel Predators and Prey

Conger eels are bottom feeders who subsist primarily on crustaceans, shrimp, and small fish, though they also eat sea urchins, dead fish, and occasionally other eels. They have very poor eyesight, and they hunt by tracking a prey’s smell. Some hide and wait to attack prey that happens by, while others chase prey down to attack. They have few known predators in their adult stage aside from humans, though they may be consumed by any number of carnivorous or omnivorous sea creatures during earlier life stages.

Conger Eel Reproduction and Lifespan

A conger eel can live up to 20 years on average, though 30 years is not unheard of. Because they only seem to mate in the last stage of their lives and often at depths of many thousands of feet, little is known about their mating habits or reproduction. What is known is that there are four separate stages of an eel’s life. They begin as embryos or larvae called leptocephali. From there, they drift in the ocean, consuming food until they reach the glass eel stage. As they grow, they lose transparency and become small elvers, which finally grow into adult eels.

Conger Eel in fishing and cooking

Though it is discouraged or illegal in some places, many countries fish for and eat conger eels because of their taste. Some species of conger eel have a strong taste and are very popular fish for use in sushi. They are also used in some other Asian cuisines, some dishes in South America, and they are also used to make a popular stew recipe in Portugal. These eels are often found for sale at fishmongers in England, for dishes such as baked conger with tomato. Conger eel tails, bones and all, are often used to create a broth that tastes much like fish stock, while the rest of the body is boned and used for its meat alone.