The Muraenesocidae, or pike congers, are a small family of marine eels found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas.[1] Some species are known to enter brackish water.
Muraenesocidae | |
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Muraenesox cinereus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Anguilliformes |
Suborder: | Congroidei |
Family: | Muraenesocidae Bleeker, 1864 |
Genera | |
see text |
Pike congers have cylindrical bodies, scaleless skin, narrow heads with large eyes, and strong teeth. Their dorsal fins start above the well-developed pectoral fins. These rather aggressive fish range from 60 to 250 cm (2.0 to 8.2 ft) in length.
Genera
editAbout 15 known species are recognized in 6 genera:[2]
- Congresox Gill, 1890
- Cynoponticus Costa, 1845
- Muraenesox McClelland, 1843
- Oxyconger Bleeker, 1864
- Sauromuraenesox Alcock, 1889
References
edit- ^ McCosker, John F. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 89. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Muraenesocidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- A Dictionary of Zoology 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999.