Scientific Name
Conger oceanicus

Common Name
American conger

Biology
Occurs from shallow inshore waters to depths of 477 m and up to 260 m in the Gulf of Maine (Ref. 7135). Benthic (Ref. 5951). Feeds mainly on fishes, but also on shrimps and small shellfish. Commonly caught by anglers along piers, docks and jetties in middle Atlantic states.

Classification

Classified By

Mitchill, 1818

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Conger and garden eels (Congridae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Cape Cod in Massachusetts to northeastern Florida in USA and northern Gulf of Mexico. Reported in eastern Atlantic: St. Helena (Ref. 5288). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951).

Range

50°N - 16°S, 97°W - 5°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

477 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 477 m (Ref. 5951), usually 75 - 150 m (Ref. 5951)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.79 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

230 cm

Common Length

100.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5001 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (84 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tm>4)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated