Conger jordani Kanazawa, 1958

Smith, David G. & Ho, Hsuan-Ching, 2018, Review of the congrid eel genus Conger (Anguilliformes: Congridae) in Taiwan, Zootaxa 4454 (1), pp. 168-185 : 173-176

Conger jordani Kanazawa, 1958

Figs. 3B , 4 ; Table 1

Conger jordani Kanazawa, 1958:250 , fig. 4; pl. 1, fig. G (Type locality: Misaki, Japan, Albatross. Holotype: USNM 71844). Ho et al., 2015:146.

Conger japonicus (not of Bleeker, 1879):? Chen & Weng, 1967:49;? Chen, 1969: 132;? Shen, 1984:112;? Shen, 1988:15;? Shen et al., 1993:116;? Chen, 2004:32;? Ho et al., 2010:table 1.

Conger wilsoni (not of Bloch & Schneider, 1801):? Chen & Yu, 1986:252.

Conger conger (not of Linnaeus, 1758):? Lee & Yang, 1966:56, fig. 5.

Specimens examined. 32 specimens, 80‒636 mm TL. Taiwan : * ASIZP 62593 (1, 401), Da-xi , Yilan, NE Taiwan, 11 Jul. 2003 . * NMMB-P2540 (2, 389‒438), Wan-li-tong, Pingtung, 15 Dec. 1978 . * NMMB-P24766 (1, 428), Ketzu-liao , Kaohsiung, 15 Oct. 2016 . * USNM 311373 (3, 80‒382), Rocky point on northwest shore of first large cove on west side of island north of southern tip of island, 2 May 1968 . * USNM 311374 (3, 92.5‒135), Chuan-fan-shih, Pintung , SW Taiwan, 23 Apr. 1968 . * USNM 311375 (1, 130), Ken-ting. Pingtun , SW Taiwan, 22 Apr. 1968 . * USNM 398804 (1, 350), Taiwan , 19 Oct. 2006 . * USNM 398805 (1, 357), Taiwan , 19 Oct. 2006 . * USNM 398806 (1, 418), Taiwan , 12 Feb 2007 . * USNM 398807 (3, 80‒458), Taiwan . Japan: USNM 26250 (1, 596, paratype), Japan . USNM 49866 (1, 382, paratype), Misaki . USNM 71715 (1, 491, paratype), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 71716 (1, 452, paratype), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 71819 (1, 636, paratype), Okinawa . USNM 71843 (1, 480, paratype), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 71844 (1, 605, holotype), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 71845 (1, 579, paratype), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 71915 (1, 533), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 71963 (1, 565, paratype), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 72003 (1, 633, paratype), Misaki , 1906 . USNM 163467 (1, 506, paratype), Kagoshima, 19 Aug 1906 . USNM 179791 (1, 167), Gogashima near Misaki , 27 Apr 1929 . South Africa (tentative identification): USNM 171997 (1, 406), Port Alfred . USNM 171998 (1, 630), Great Fish Point.

Diagnosis. DFO behind pectoral fin. Maxillary teeth mainly in one row, except for 1‒4 extra teeth on inner row ( Fig. 3B ). Vertebrae 140‒146.

Description. See Table 1 for morphometric data. Lateral-line pores: prepectoral 4‒6; predorsal 13‒15; preanal 35‒38; total 135‒138. Head pores: SO 4, IO 5 (4 on upper jaw + 1 behind rictus), POM 9 (6 on lower jaw, 3 behind rictus), ST 1. Vertebrae: predorsal 14‒16; preanal 37‒39; total 140‒146; MVF 15-39-143.

DFO well behind pectoral fin. Angle of jaw before posterior margin of eye, 6th IO pore at level of and more than one pore diameter behind rictus. Usually none to as many as 4 small teeth present in inner row of teeth on each jaw ( Fig. 3B ).

When preserved, most dorsal and lateral surfaces uniformly black, ventral surface slightly paler; pectoral fin blackish; throat and upper lip pale; median fins white with black base and margins, posterior portion entirely black.

Maximum size 636 mm TL, expected to be larger than this.

Distribution. Known from Japan and Taiwan, and possibly South Africa.

Remarks. In Taiwan, both this species and Conger macrocephalus (see below) have been confused under the name Conger japonicus (see Smith, et al., 2016 for a clarification of the latter name). Conger jordani is distinguished by its posterior DFO and the presence of a single row of maxillary teeth, except for 1‒4 small teeth on the inner row that may be present anteriorly in some specimens. Kanazawa (1958) tentatively recorded this species from South Africa on the basis of two specimens, but noted that the DFO was more anterior than in the Japanese specimens. Although he did not give catalog numbers for the South African specimens, they are apparently USNM 171997 and 171998. Further studies with additional material are needed to assess the taxonomic status of the South Africa population.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Demonstration of jaw tooth pattern of five Conger species in Taiwan. A. C. cinereus, from NMMB-P24265. B. C. jordani, from NMMB-P24766. C. C. macrocephalus, NMMB-P15401. D. C. myriaster, NMMB-P6392. E. C. philippinus, NMMB-P22425. Note that the numbers of principal teeth are not counted from the specimens.

FIGURE 4. Conger jordani Kanazawa, 1958. A–B. NMMB-P24766, 428 mm TL. Bars indicate origins of dorsal fin (above) and anal fin (below).