Family Congridae

Conger Eels

Conger eels have smooth scaleless skin, large pectoral fins, and the continuous marginal fin rays are easily visible.  They are much less common than moray eels in Hawaii.

Leptocephalus eel larva

 

HAWAII

 Ariosoma marginatum

Midway Harbor, 10 feet 

LARGE-EYE CONGER

Uncommon at any depth.  Burrows in sand and only emerges at night.  Large eyes and short snout, silvery with brownish markings and black fin margins.  Attains at least 1 foot.

Conger marginatus

Kahe Point, Oahu, 25 feet 

MUSTACHE CONGER    PUHI UHA    Hamo

Also known in Hawaii as White eel or Tohei.  Hides under rocks or in caverns and emerges at night.  Thick cylindrical body and tapering snout and black fin margins, gray with brown bars at night.  Attains at least 4 feet.  Formerly known as C. cinereus.

Gorgasia hawaiiensis   

Corsair, Oahu, 110 feet 

 

Corsair, Oahu, 110 feet

Molokini Crater, Maui

HAWAIIAN GARDEN EEL

Endemic to Hawaii.  Locally common on deeper sand flats exposed to current.  Extends vertically from burrow to feed upon zooplankton.  Attains 3 feet.


INDO-PACIFIC

Heteroconger hassi

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 35 feet

SPOTTED GARDEN EEL

Inhabits burrows in areas exposed to strong current.  Juveniles black.  Attains 16 inches.  South Africa to Okinawa & the Society Islands.

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