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Argentine conger (Conger orbignianus) — Congridae

Argentine conger

Conger orbignianus
Family: Congridae
LC · Least Concern

The Argentine conger (Conger orbignianus) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 112 cm.

Length
112 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Argentine conger is a true conger eel (Congridae) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The species has a robust, eel-shaped, scaleless body with a large mouth and strong jaws; the dorsal, caudal and anal fins form a continuous fringe. It lives in shallow waters of the continental shelf, often hidden among rocks and in crevices. As a nocturnal predator it hunts fishes, shrimps, crabs and molluscs. The powerful jaws with sharp teeth can give a serious bite when handled; otherwise the fish is not aggressive.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Argentine conger?

The Argentine conger has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Argentine conger live?

The Argentine conger lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Argentine conger get?

The Argentine conger grows to a maximum of about 112 cm.

Is the Argentine conger dangerous to humans?

No, the Argentine conger is harmless to humans.

Is the Argentine conger edible?

Yes, the Argentine conger is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Argentijnse zeepaling sourced
English name
Argentine conger verified
Scientific name
Conger orbignianus
Family
Congridae
Other names
Argentine conger verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
112.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Conger

More from the family Congridae

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