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Shortsnout conger (Chiloconger dentatus) — Congridae

Shortsnout conger

Chiloconger dentatus
Family: Congridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Shortsnout conger (Chiloconger dentatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Congridae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
27.0–2198.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Atlantic
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The shortsnout conger is a deep-sea conger eel from the eastern Atlantic. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a snake-like, scaleless body with a short snout and strong teeth. As a bottom-dweller it lives on soft bottoms over a wide depth range, from about 25 to more than 2000 metres, where it often buries itself. It hunts small fish and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans and has little commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Shortsnout conger?

The Shortsnout conger has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Snake-like body with a short snout; burrowing deep-sea eel

Where does the Shortsnout conger live?

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

How big does the Shortsnout conger get?

The Shortsnout conger grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Shortsnout conger dangerous to humans?

No, the Shortsnout conger is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Shortsnout conger edible?

The Shortsnout conger is not usually eaten.

More photos

Shortsnout conger (Chiloconger dentatus) — Congridae — 2
© President and Fellows of Harvard College (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — MCZ
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All data

Identification

English name
Shortsnout conger verified
Scientific name
Chiloconger dentatus
Family
Congridae
Other names
Thicklip conger verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
27.0 verified
Max depth (m)
2198.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern Atlantic verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes and crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Burrowing deep-sea eel; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Snake-like body with a short snout; burrowing deep-sea eel sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Chiloconger

More from the family Congridae

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