Scientific Name
Gnathophis cinctus

Common Name
Hardtail conger

Biology
A soft bottom inhabitant. Reported to burrow into loose sand, and appears to be fairly resistant to chemical preparations used for collecting fish (Ref. 2850). Bottom feeding predators devour conger eels when encountered in the open (Ref. 4525).

Classification

Classified By

Garman, 1899

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Conger and garden eels (Congridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Peru.

Range

37°N -

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

9 m

Depth To - meters

336 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 9 - 336 m (Ref. 2850)

Trophic Level

4.2 s.e. 0.73 Based on food items.

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

42.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)