Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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X-ray Vision: Fish Inside Out, organized by the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), is an exhibit traveling to museums across the country through 2015. Visit the SITES page for the tour itinerary.
Description: A European conger. Here it is observed in the BOP at the Whirlwind location, West of Shetland.
European Congers (Conger conger) are found on rocky and sandy bottoms, remaining in shallow water as a juvenile and moving to deeper water as adults. It is found in the Eastern Atlantic (Senegal to Norway) and in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. It is a nocturnal predator which appeared to be resting in shelter provided by the overtrawl structure during our daytime observations. Spawns once, in the summer off Portugal or in the Mediterranean. For more information see Fishbase: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Congerandspeciesname=conger Item Type: Image Title: Conger conger Copyright: SERPENT Species: Conger conger Behaviour: Shelter in the BOP during the day. This is a nocturnal predator. Site: Atlantic -- North Sea -- West of Shetland -- WhirlwindNorth Sea -- West of Shetland -- Whirlwind Depth (m): 184 Latitude: 60 deg 17' 01" N Longitude: 3 deg 50' 19" E Countries: UK -- West of Shetland Habitat: Benthic Rig: Wilphoenix Project Partners: Hurricane Exploration (HEX), Fugro ROV: Super Spartan Deposited By: Dr Andrew Gates Deposited On: 14 March 2012
Description: Nettastomatidae, Nettastoma melanurum
Body very elongate, scaleless, cylindrical anteriorly, compressed posteriorly and tapering to a point; anus before midpoint of body. Head long;anterior nostril tubular, at base of prominent snout tip; posterior nostril an oval hole at level of upper eye margin. Jaws elongate, the upper with prominent tip and longer than lower; rictus below posterior eye margin. Teeth in bands on jaws and vomer, their size diminishing slightly from inner rows to outer ones; no palatopterygoid teeth; plates of upper and lower pharyngeal teeth of same shape and size. Gill openings crescentic, lateral. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins confluent, well developed; dorsal fin origin over gill opening.Lateral line with 43-45 preanal pores; 7-9 before gill openings; 3supratemporal pores. Vertebrae: total 186-207 (larvae 186-211 myomeres;preanal 60-70); abdominal 56-59. Colour: (preserved specimens) brownish dorsally, pale whitish-brown ventrally; posterior part of dorsal and anal fins with a black margin; peritoneum black. Size: to 80 cm.
Item Type: Image Title: Nettastoma melanurum Copyright: SERPENT Project Species: Nettastoma melanurum Site: Indian -- Indian Ocean -- East Africa -- Cachalote Site Description: Seafloor Depth (m): 660 Countries: East Africa -- Mozambique Rig: Discoverer Americas Project Partners: Oceaneering ROV: Oceaneering Deposited By: Dr Daniel Jones Deposited On: 06 February 2015