Eelfish

Eelfish
	Congrogadus subducens
Systematics
	Acanthomorphata
	Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
	Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
	Ovalentaria
	incertae sedis
Family :	Eelfish
Scientific name
	Congrogadidae
	Günther , 1862

The eelfish (Congrogadidae) are a family of small, elongated perch relatives that occur on the coasts of the tropical Indo-Pacific .

features

Eelfish reach a length of four to 45 centimeters, depending on the species. They differ mainly in their eel-like elongated body from the dwarf perch , to which they were previously considered a subfamily. Your long dorsal fin is supported by 32 to 79 fin rays. It is preceded by an isolated fin spine, which is only missing in Congrogadus subducens . The anal fin has 22 to 66 rays, the spines are missing. Small, throaty ventral fins are present in eight species and are supported by a spine and two to four soft rays. The pelvic fins are missing in eleven species. The body of the eelfish is covered by small round scales. In some species the dorsal, caudal and anal fins have grown together to form a continuous fin edge, in most of them they are somewhat separated. The mouth of the eelfish can be turned forward (protractile). The gill cover has a strong backward-directed sting on its upper edge. Eel perch have a complete or only partially developed side line , with Halidesmus there are three side lines. The palatine bone is not dentate; teeth may be present or absent on the ploughshare . The surface of their eggs is covered by cross-shaped bumps.

Way of life

Eelfish live more or less hidden in coral reefs or over stony or muddy seabeds from the intertidal zone down to depths of 140 meters. In the Gulf of Carpentaria , a species lives in the central cavity of sponges . They are carnivorous .

Genera and species

Blennodesmus scapularis

Genus Blennodesmus Günther, 1872.
- Blennodesmus scapularis Günther, 1872
Genus Congrogadus Günther, 1862
- Congrogadus amplimaculatus (Winterbottom, 1980)
- Congrogadus hierichthys Jordan & Richardson, 1908
- Congrogadus malayanus (Weber, 1909)
- Congrogadus spinifer (Borodin, 1933)
- Green conger eel ( Congrogadus subducens ) (Richardson, 1843)