Cynoponticus coniceps — Details

Red Pike-conger learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: eel (English), pike-conger (English), morencio (Espanol), congrio (Espanol)
 
Cynoponticus coniceps (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)


Conehead eel,     Cone-head pike-conger,     Red pike-conger



Heavy bodied; tail ~ 60% of TL; large teeth and strong jaws teeth in multiple rows on jaws, large fang-like canines at front of jaws; 3 rows on roof of mouth, central row of about 15 very large triangular teeth with their tips angled to rear; large teeth at front of lower jaw fit into a notch on underside of snout; large, skin-covered eyes; front nostril tubular; rear nostril an elliptical hole before mid-eye; gill openings large, crescentic, low on side, nearly meet below; well developed pectorals centered on the upper edge of the gill openings; well developed dorsal and anal fins, continuous around tip of tail; dorsal origin over gill opening; conspicuous lateral line runs the length of the body, opens through systems of multiple pores, no pores apparent on head. 


Olive brown to greyish above and whitish below; dorsal and anal fins pale grey to brownish with dark margin.

Size: reaches 202 cm.

Habitat: sandy and muddy bottoms.

Depth: 10-100 m.

Southern Baja, throughout the Gulf of California to northern Peru.

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Biology

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Inhabits sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 9323). Feeds on invertebrates and fishes (Ref. 9323). The flesh is of excellent quality (Ref. 9323).
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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is found in the Eastern Pacific from Magdalena Bay, throughout the Gulf of California to northern Peru (Chirichigno and Cornejo 2001).
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Eastern Pacific: Mexico to Ecuador.
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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 10 (S) - 100 (S)
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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific


 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continental TEP endemic, 3 provinces (Cortez + Mexican + Panamic) endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California), Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap), Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos), Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)

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Physical Description

Morphology

Size

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Length max (cm): 202.0 (S)
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Size

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Maximum size: 1000 mm TL
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Max. size

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202 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 38398)); max. published weight: 11.0 kg (Ref. 38398)
  • Franke, R. and A. Acero 1996 Peces oseos comerciales del Parque Gorgona, Pacifico colombiano (Osteichthyes: Muraenesocidae, Hemiramphidae, Belonidae, Scorpaenidae, Triglidae, Malacanthidae, Gerreidae, Sparidae, Kyphosidae, Sphyraenidae e Istiophoridae). Revista de Biologia Tropical 44(2):763-770. (Ref. 38398)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=38398&speccode=8221 External link.
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Type Information

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Paralectotype; Syntype for Cynoponticus coniceps
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Gilbert
Year Collected: 1880
Locality: Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Pacific
  • Paralectotype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.; Syntype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.
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Paralectotype; Syntype for Cynoponticus coniceps
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Gilbert
Year Collected: 1880
Locality: Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Pacific
  • Paralectotype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.; Syntype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.
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Paralectotype; Syntype for Cynoponticus coniceps
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Gilbert
Year Collected: 1880
Locality: Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Pacific
  • Paralectotype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.; Syntype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.
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Lectotype; Syntype for Cynoponticus coniceps
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Preparation: Radiograph
Collector(s): C. Gilbert
Year Collected: 1880
Locality: Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Pacific
  • Lectotype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.; Syntype: Smith, D. G. 1994. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. No. 566: 14.; Jordan, D. S. & Gilbert, C. H. 1882(1881). Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 4 (237): 348.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
This species inhabits sandy and muddy substrate, as well as mangrove habitats. This species can grow to more than two m long and weigh over 11 kg making it one of the largest species of the genus and family (Smith 1995).

Systems
  • Marine
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Depth range based on 8 specimens in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 3 - 30

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 3 - 30
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Depth: 10 - 100m.
From 10 to 100 meters.

Habitat: demersal.
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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Marine Only

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Soft bottom only, Mud, Sand & gravel

FishBase Habitat: Demersal
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Environment

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demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 100 m (Ref. 9323)
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Trophic Strategy

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Inhabits sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 9323). Feeds on invertebrates and fishes.
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Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves, octopus/squid/cuttlefish, bony fishes
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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
DD
Data Deficient

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
McCosker, J., Béarez, P., Bernal, O., Betancur, R., Lea, B.

Reviewer/s
Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Contributor/s

Justification
This species is wide-ranging, however more information is needed to assess the impacts of fishing activities on populations. This species is therefore listed as Data Deficient given the potential intensity of threats to this species combined with the lack of information on population status and trends.
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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

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Population
No population information is available for this species.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
This species is a commercially harvested fish, and is a bycatch of shrimp trawling and a variety of other fishing gear types. The effect of commercial harvests and shrimp fisheries on this species is unknown, especially as little is known about current population status or trends. Additionally, fishermen typically remove the head making it difficult to identify this species for futher study (Franke and Acero 1996).
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Data deficient (DD)
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
There are no known specific conservation measures for this species. This species' distribution overlaps a number of Marine Protected Areas in the eastern tropical Pacific region (WDPA 2006). However, research is needed to determine population trends and the effects of commercial fishing, shrimp fisheries, and bycatch on this species.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

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fisheries: commercial
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