Muraenesox bagio (Hamilton, 1822)
Common pike conger
Muraenesox bagio
photo by Khan, M.M.

Family:  Muraenesocidae (Pike congers)
Max. size:  200 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 7,100.0 g
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 100 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Philippines and Japan, south to New Guinea, the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Vertebrae: 128-141. Body robust and eel-shaped; snout long; eye diameter 3 times in snout length (Ref. 4832). Head narrower, interorbital width about 10 times in head; lateral-line pores before anus 33-39; dorsal-fin rays before anus 47-49 (Ref. 9830). Posterior nostrils only slightly nearer to eye than to anterior nostrils; mouth very large; teeth generally large and conspicuous (Ref. 4832).
Biology:  Found in coastal waters, including estuaries; sublittoral above 100 m (Ref. 11230). Feeds on benthic fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 9830). Nocturnal. Known to attack fishers or anglers after being captured (Ref. 6590). Also caught by drift net and bag (dol) nets. Marketed mainly fresh. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  other


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