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Genus: Chiloconger, Conger Eels


All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

snout short ( < eye), blunt
D: origin over center pectoral
D & A rays not segmented
tail ~60% of TL
D & A join C, tail tip rigid
both lips - large folds, upper high & covers divided hollow
pectoral base extends above gill opening

CHILOCONGER

CONGER EELS

Elongate; head cylindrical; tail long (60% of TL); body compressed, especially at rear; snout short (< eye), blunt; mouth ~ horizontal, opens at front; lips with large, fleshy flanges at sides, top jaw flange much wider than that on bottom jaw; hollowed-out area behind top flange and under eye separated by inclined partition; front nostril a short tube at tip of top jaw; rear nostril a raised hole, in contact with front of eye; a tubed pore above and in contact with both rear nostril and eye;  eye large (~ 22% of head length), well forward; teeth small, conical, close-set, in 3 rows on both jaws, in patch on roof of mouth; gill openings large, vertical, relatively far apart below (~ length of gill opening); pectoral fin well developed,  top of base above top of gill opening; dorsal origin over middle of pectoral; fin rays not segmented; dorsal and anal fins continuous with rounded tail fin; tip of tail stiff.

This genus, with 2 species, is endemic to the tropical eastern Pacific.