Ariosoma kapala (Castle, 1990)
Mottled conger
Ariosoma kapala
photo by Graham, K.

Family:  Congridae (Conger and garden eels), subfamily: Bathymyrinae
Max. size:  54 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 46 - 64 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: Australia.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished by having the following characters: body with mid-greyish brown background colour, covered with small, discrete, ovoid light spots, especially over head, trunk and dorsal and pectoral fins; precaudal vertebrae 74, total vertebrae 147; preanal 2.2 in TL, eye 5.1 in head; vomerine teeth on posterior half of bone molariform (Ref. 87005).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 19 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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