Daggertooth pike conger
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenesocidae
Genus: Muraenesox
Species:
M. cinereus
Binomial name
Muraenesox cinereus
(Forsskål, 1775)[2]
Synonyms

Muraena cinerea Forsskål, 1775

The daggertooth pike conger (Muraenesox cinereus) also known as the darkfin pike eel in Australia, to distinguish it from the related pike-eel (Muraenesox bagio),[3] is a species of eel in the pike conger family, Muraenesocidae.[4] They primarily live on soft bottoms in marine and brackish waters down to a depth of 800 m (2,600 ft), but may enter freshwater.[4] They commonly grow to about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length,[5] but may grow as long as 2.2 m (7.2 ft).[4] Daggertooth pike congers occur in the Red Sea, on the coast of the northern Indian Ocean, and in the West Pacific from Indochina to Japan. A single specimen was also reported in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel in 1982.[6]

Culinary uses

Muraenesox cinereus in aquarium

Daggertooth pike conger is a major commercial species, with annual catches reaching about 350,000 tonnes in recent years. The spot reporting the largest landings was Taiwan.[5] It is eaten in Japanese cuisine, where it is known as hamo (ハモ, 鱧).[7] In the Kansai Region, hamo no kawa (pickled conger skins) is a traditional delicacy, and pike conger is a common ingredient in some types of kamaboko (fish cake).[8][9]

Parasites

As with other fish, the daggertooth pike conger harbours several species of parasites.

A species of trichosomoidid nematode which parasitizes the muscles of the fish off Japan has been described in 2014 and named Huffmanela hamo, in reference to the Japanese name of the fish.[10] Accumulations of eggs of the parasite are visible as 1–2mm black spots in the flesh of the fish. The parasite is rare and the consumption of infected fish meat has no consequences for humans.

References

  1. ↑ McCosker, J.; Smith, D.G.; Tighe, K.; Torres, A.G. & Leander, N.J.S. (2021). "Muraenesox cinereus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T199344A2585390. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T199344A2585390.en. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Muraenesox cinereus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  3. ↑ Bray, Dianne J. "Muraenesox cinereus". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 4 Sep 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Muraenesox cinereus" in FishBase. September 2012 version.
  5. 1 2 "Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskal, 1775)". Species Fact Sheets. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. 2012.
  6. ↑ Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Muraenesox cinereus). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Muraenesox_cinereus.pdf
  7. ↑ Davidson, Alan (2003). Seafood of South-East Asia: a comprehensive guide with recipes. Ten Speed Press. p. 34. ISBN 1-58008-452-4.
  8. ↑ "かまぼこ製品図鑑 [Kamaboko Products]". 日本かまぼこ協会 [Japan Kamaboko Association]. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "かまぼこの種類と歴史 [History and Types of Kamaboko]". 上野屋蒲鉾店 [Uenoya Kamaboko]. Archived from the original on 2007-01-10. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  10. ↑ Justine, J.-L. & Iwaki, T. 2014: Huffmanela hamo sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae: Huffmanelinae) from the dagger-tooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus off Japan. Folia Parasitologica, 61, 267–271 doi:10.14411/fp.2014.029 Free PDF Open access icon


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