Longfin African conger

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iLongfin African conger

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Aulopiformes
Family: Congridae
Genus: Conger
Species: C. cinereus
Binomial name
Conger cinereus
Rüppell, 1830

The longfin African conger, Conger cinereus, is a conger of the family Congridae, found in the Indo-Pacific oceans from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesas and Easter islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to northern Australia and Lord Howe Island, at depths down to 80 m. Length is up to 1.3 m.

The longfin African conger has flanges on the upper and lower lips which are well developed, and two rows of teeth in each jaw, those of the outer row larger, closely set and compressed to form a cutting edge. The dorsal fin begins over the middle of an appressed pectoral fin. It is a solitary species common on reef flats and seagrass beds of shallow lagoons but ranges to depths of 80 m on outer reef slopes. It is also found in estuaries. It feeds on fish and crustaceans at night, assuming a pattern of broad dark grey bars.

Coloration is brownish grey, yellow below and on fins, median fins with narrow black edge, black patch on lower rear edge of eye and on pectoral fins. Assumes a pattern of broad dark bands at night.

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