Sealife guideThe european conger eelConger conger

Last updated on 08/21/2024 at 10:42 PM
Taxonomy
  • Common name: European conger eel
  • French name: Congre, congre commun, anguille de mer
  • Spanish name: Congrio común
  • Scientific name: Conger conger (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Family name: Congridae
  • Order name: Anguilliformes
  • Class name: Actinopterygii
Description
The European conger eel can reach up to 10 feet in length for females and 3.3 feet for males.
The color of the European conger eel ranges from gray to black with a lighter underside
The color of the European conger eel ranges from gray to black with a lighter underside
Similarly, the European conger eel can weigh up to 220 pounds for females and 66 pounds for males.
The European conger eel has an elongated body similar to that of an eel. Cylindrical at the head, its body flattens out towards the tail.
The European conger eel is characterized by a continuous fin around its body and a smooth, scale-less skin.
Its color ranges from gray to black with a lighter underside.
Geographic range
The European conger eel is found in the North Sea, the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
Habitat
The European conger eel lives in rocky crevices. It is not uncommon to find it in shipwrecks.
The European conger eel can be found at depths ranging from 33 to 200 feet, and even at several hundred feet deep.
Diet
Hidden during the day, the European conger eel comes out at night to hunt. It primarily feeds on fish, crustaceans and octopuses.
Hidden during the day, the European conger eel comes out at night to hunt
Hidden during the day, the European conger eel comes out at night to hunt
Reproduction
The female European conger eel spawns her eggs in the summer at great depths.
Did you know ?
The female European conger eel can lay up to 8 million eggs.
After laying all her eggs and ensuring the survival of the species, the female European conger eel does not survive the pressure at such great depths.
The european conger eel is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The european conger eel appears in the IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !
Tips for observing
Concealed in its shelter, the European conger eel is a fish that can be easily observed.
Concealed in its shelter, the European conger eel is a fish that can be easily observed
Concealed in its shelter, the European conger eel is a fish that can be easily observed
Preferred hiding spots include any crevice and shipwrecks with their numerous hiding places.
Discover also
Banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus)
Banded pipefish
(Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus)
Crevalle jack (Caranx hippos)
Crevalle jack
(Caranx hippos)
Lemon damselfish (Pomacentrus moluccensis)
Lemon damselfish
(Pomacentrus moluccensis)
Longspot snapper (Lutjanus fulviflamma)
Longspot snapper
(Lutjanus fulviflamma)
Peacock grouper (Cephalopholis argus)
Peacock grouper
(Cephalopholis argus)
Redspotted hawkfish (Amblycirrhitus pinos)
Redspotted hawkfish
(Amblycirrhitus pinos)
Scaleless shrimpgoby (Tomiyamichthys nudus)
Scaleless shrimpgoby
(Tomiyamichthys nudus)
Starry grouper (Epinephelus labriformis)
Starry grouper
(Epinephelus labriformis)
The marine species from Mediterranean sea
Dotted sea slug (Peltodoris atromaculata)
Dotted sea slug
(Peltodoris atromaculata)
Forkweed (Dictyota dichotoma)
Forkweed
(Dictyota dichotoma)
Giant doris (Felimare picta)
Giant doris
(Felimare picta)
John dory (Zeus faber)
John dory
(Zeus faber)
Many-ribbed jellyfish (Aequorea forskalea)
Many-ribbed jellyfish
(Aequorea forskalea)
Neptune's lace (Reteporella grimaldii)
Neptune's lace
(Reteporella grimaldii)
Orange flatworm (Yungia aurantiaca)
Orange flatworm
(Yungia aurantiaca)
Purse codium (Codium bursa)
Purse codium
(Codium bursa)

Our latestUpdates

The leopard blenny
Thursday, October 30th 2025
The leopard blenny
The leopard blenny is a small reef fish from the Indo-Pacific ocean. It is easily recognized by its spotted coloration, which resembles that of a leopard. It lives on shallow coral reefs, feeds mainly on algae and polyps and skillfully camouflages among the corals to avoid predators.
The Spanish slipper lobster
Monday, October 27th 2025
The Spanish slipper lobster
The Spanish slipper lobster is a colorful crustacean found around reefs in the tropical waters of the northwestern Atlantic. Its flattened body and distinctive antennae allow it to hide in crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed on benthic invertebrates.
The Hawaiian archipelago, a volcanic gem of the pacific
Monday, October 20th 2025
The Hawaiian archipelago, a volcanic gem of the pacific
Discover the Hawaiian archipelago, a volcanic paradise in the Pacific ocean where fiery mountains, lush forests and turquoise lagoons meet. Explore its islands, unique biodiversity and the geological forces that shaped this natural wonder.
Photo of the Day
Seiche flamboyante (Metasepia pfefferi)
Seiche flamboyante
(Metasepia pfefferi)