Hawaiian Fishes 51 



The Hawaiian specimens were taken off Kauai, Bird Island (Nihoa), 

 and Oahu between 222 and 800 fathoms. 



THE PIKO EEL OR PIKE EEL FAMILY 



28 Family Muroenesocidae 



The piko eels are all of large size with long, slender snouts and 

 strong, knife-like teeth. The canine teeth of this family are reported to 

 be prominent. 



Only one specimen of this family was ever recorded from the 

 Hawaiian Islands. 



Piko Eel 



28-1 Muraenesox arabicus (Schneider) 

 This piko eel reaches a length of forty inches. It occurs off India, 



the East Indies, Java and the Hawaiian Islands, 



The only Hawaiian specimen known was killed by the Mauna Loa 



lava flow of 1919- 



THE CONGER EEL FAMILY 



29 Family Congridae (Leptocephalidae) 



The conger eels are most easily recognized by the fact that they have 

 pectoral fins, but no pelvic fins. In color they are usually grayish above 

 and whitish beneath and are reported to reach a length of six or eight feet. 

 The largest conger on record was reported from London, September 17, 

 1904. It was supposed to have weighed 160 pounds and measured nine 

 feet in length. The bodies of these eels are long and tapering and the 

 unpaired fins are joined to form one continuous fringing fin running 

 from the head around to the anus. The species are mostly large and are 

 all marine; they do not enter fresh water. Although the conger eels 

 resemble fresh water eels, they are without scales and have a somewhat 

 different mouth. 



The conger eels lay larger eggs than other eels and usually many 

 more. They are reported to deposit as many as 3,000,000 at a single 

 spawning. These eggs hatch into transparent ribbon-shaped larvae 

 (Leptocephalus) which have small heads. These larvae are loose and 

 watery at first but grow solid as they grow older. 



The conger eels are active at night. They feed on fishes, cuttlefish, 

 Crustacea, and worms. 



The flesh of these eels is white and is valued as food. It is commonly 

 sold on island markets and brings a good price. 



