Hardtail conger

The Hardtail conger (Gnathophis cinctus, also known as the Catalina conger[2]) is an eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels).[3] It was described by Samuel Garman in 1899, originally under the genus Atopichthys.[4] It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the United States.[5] It dwells at a depth range of 9–336 metres, and leads a benthic lifestyle, burrowing into loose sand. Males can reach a maximum total length of 42 cm (17 in; 1.38 ft).[3]

Hardtail conger
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Congridae
Genus:	Gnathophis
Species:	G. cinctus
Binomial name
Gnathophis cinctus (Garman, 1899)
Synonyms[1]
Atopichthys cinctus Garman, 1899 Rhynchocymba catalinensis Wade, 1946 Gnathophis catalinensis (Wade, 1946)

The Hardtail conger feeds on other conger eels.[6] Due to its widespread distribution, lack of known threats, and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the Hardtail conger as Least Concern.[5]

References

1. Synonyms of Gnathophis cinctus at www.fishbase.org.
2. Common names for Gnathophis cinctus at www.fishbase.org.
3. Gnathophis cinctus at www.fishbase.org.
4. Garman, S., 1899 (Dec.) [ref. 1540] The Fishes. In: Reports on an exploration off the west coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and off the Galapagos Islands ... by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer "Albatross," during 1891 ... No. XXVI. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology v. 24: Text: 1-431, Atlas: Pls. 1-85 + A-M.
5. Gnathophis cinctus at IUCN redlist.
6. Food items reported for Gnathophis cinctus at www.fishbase.org.