Uroconger lepturus (Richardson, 1845)
Slender conger
Uroconger lepturus
photo by Rao, Y.K.

Family:  Congridae (Conger and garden eels), subfamily: Congrinae
Max. size:  52 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 18 - 760 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Natal, South Africa (Ref. 5323) to Japan.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 210. Light grey-brown, lighter ventrally, fins darker (Ref. 5323). Head small. Skin soft, without scales. Dorsal originating slightly beyond tip of pectoral fin. Pectoral fin short. Anal fin inserted before middle of the body (Ref. 41285).
Biology:  Occurs offshore, on soft sandy mud (Ref. 305730 and in coastal areas with sandy bottoms (Ref. 5213). Benthopelagic or benthic at 622-704 m (Ref. 58302). Feeds mainly on small benthic crustaceans (Ref. 9603).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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