Shorttail Conger, Paraconger similis
The Shorttail Conger, Paraconger similis, whose common Spanish name is congrio colicorta, is a species in the Family Congridae, the Conger Eels, known as congrios in Mexico. Globally, there are only seven species in the genus Paraconger, of which three are found in Mexican waters, one in the Atlantic and two in the Pacific.
The Shorttail Congers have elongated cylindrical “eel-like” bodies. They are tan to reddish brown in color transitioning to silver ventrally. They lack other significant markings. The margins of their anal and dorsal fins are tan. Their head is long with a rounded tapering snout, a large mouth, and large eyes. Their caudal fin is short and stiff. Their dorsal fin originates over their well-developed yellow pectoral fins. Their tail length is approximately 57% of total length. They have a complete lateral line.
The Shorttail Congers reside buried within coastal sandy bottoms at depths between 160 to 490 feet. They reach a maximum length of 74 cm (29 inches), which was established by a fish in my possession and described below. They are found around the tip of Baja (as established by fish in my possession) and along the coast of the mainland from Mazatlán south to Guatemala. They are a rare and poorly studied species and as such very limited information is available about their behavioral patterns.
The Shorttail Conger can be confused with the Sharpnose Conger, Ariosoma gilberti (tail 50% of total length) and the Ringeye Conger, Paraconger californiensis (dark ring in iris; black spot at edge of eye).
The Shorttail Congers are relatively small, exceedingly rare, and of limited interest to most.