Conger eel

The conger eel burrows into the reef during the day, coming out to feed at night. In larval form, they are leptocephalous, which means “weak head.” The larva drifts within the water column until it finds an appropriate habitat, where they will transform into a juvenile form.

The body is very long, anguilliform, without scales. The colour is usually grey, but can also be blackish. The belly is white. A row of small white spots is aligned along the lateral line. The head is almost conical, and slightly depressed. The snout is rounded and prominent, with lateral olfactory holes.

Islands in the Stream: May 10 – October 3, 2001