How large do conger eels get?

Some congers reach up to two metres (about 6½ feet) or more in length, for example the European conger.

Where are conger eels found?

Large congers have been observed in parts of the Mediterranean Sea; European and American congers are reported along European and North American Atlantic coasts.

What is known about their life history?

The life histories of most conger eels are poorly known; larvae collections show the American conger spawns in the southwestern Sargasso Sea.

Is "conger" a species name?

"Conger" is a genus name; "conger" or "conger eel" also appears in common names of species in the family Congridae.

Are congers seen by divers?

Large congers have often been observed by divers during the day in parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Are congers caught by fishermen?

Both European and American congers are sometimes caught by fishermen along the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America.

How certain is the scientific knowledge about congers?

Many aspects of conger eel life histories remain poorly known.

Conger oceanicus from the Gulf of Mexico

Saltwater Fishes

Conger Eel

Q: Where does the American conger spawn?

Collections of leptocephalus larvae indicate the American conger spawns in the southwestern Sargasso Sea.

Conger

Conger is a genus of marine congrid eels that includes some of the largest eel species, with individuals reaching around two metres or more.

conger eel

Last Updated Mar 9, 2026 · 4 sources

Photo bySEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC

Species Guide

What to know about conger eels

A clean field guide focused on habitat, identification, behavior, and conservation context without burying the useful parts.

Conger is a genus of marine congrid eels. The genus includes some of the largest types of eels, with individuals reaching up to two metres (about 6½ feet) or more in length, as in the European conger. Large congers have been observed by divers during the day in parts of the Mediterranean Sea. Both European and American congers are sometimes caught by fishermen along the European and North American Atlantic coasts. The life histories of most conger eels are poorly known; collections of leptocephalus larvae indicate the American conger spawns in the southwestern Sargasso Sea, near spawning areas of Atlantic freshwater eels. The term "conger" or "conger eel" is also used in common names for some species in the family Congridae.

Large congers have been observed during the day in parts of the Mediterranean Sea; detailed movement patterns are poorly known.

At the country level, the clearest linked starting points on this guide currently point to Germany for divers looking for conger eels.

Identification

How to identify conger eels

The visual markers divers can use underwater, plus the species most likely to cause confusion.

Key identification markers

Size

Includes some of the largest eel species, reaching up to around two metres or more in length.

Habitat observations

Large individuals have been observed by divers during daytime in parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Fisheries interactions

European and American congers are sometimes caught by fishermen along Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America.

Range and Movement

How conger eels move through the world

The broad range, seasonal movement, or migratory behavior that shapes where divers encounter this species.

Large congers have been observed during the day in parts of the Mediterranean Sea; detailed movement patterns are poorly known.

Responsible Encounters

How to dive with conger eels

Conservation-minded guidance for divers who want the encounter without adding pressure.

Divers have observed large congers during daytime in parts of the Mediterranean Sea; treat sightings as wildlife observations and avoid disturbing animals.

Field Notes