Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system

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Species: Rhynchoconger nitens, Big-nose conger, Needle-tail conger

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

snout large, conical, overhangs exposed tooth patch
D & A rays segmented
tail > 2/3 TL, slender, pointed

Rhynchoconger nitens (Jordan & Bollman, 1890)

Big-nose conger, Needle-tail conger

Elongate; tail >2/3 TL; tail slender, narrowing to a point; snout strongly projecting, conical, with fleshy keel along underside of tip; front nostril tubular, near lower front of snout; rear nostril an oval hole before about mid-eye; top and bottom lips with flanges, larger on lower jaws;  teeth small, conical, a patch of teeth under snout outside mouth when closed; patch of several rows of teeth on center front of roof of mouth  round to slightly elongate; dorsal fin begins over or a little before pectoral base; pectoral well developed, its base ends above gill opening; dorsal and anal fins continuous with the tail fin; a complete lateral line, pores along upper jaw small.

Pale reddish brown, upper half of head and body with numerous tiny black spots, silvery on lower parts; dorsal and anal fins black.

Size: reaches at least 40 cm.

Habitat: soft bottoms.

Depth: 20-104 m.

The Gulf of California to southern Peru.


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Salinity
  • Marine Only
  • Marine
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore Only
  • Inshore
Water Column Position
  • Bottom only
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Sand & gravel
  • Mud
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Soft bottom only
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • No Data
  • Carnivore
Diet
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • No Data
Egg Type
  • No data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • East Pacific endemic
  • Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • TEP endemic
  • All species
  • 3 provinces (Cortez + Mexican + Panamic) endemic
  • Continental TEP endemic
  • Continent only
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
  • North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California)
  • South Temperate (Peruvian Province )
  • Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
  • Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 40
Depth Range Min
  • 20
Depth Range Max
  • 104