Description (by M.-L. Bauchot and L. Saldanha)
Very elongate fishes, snake-like body, scaleless. Snout often markedly elongate; anterior nostril tubular; posterior nostril a simple opening in front of eye; mouth large, the rictus behind the posterior edge of eye; no fleshy lips. Teeth prominent, even raptorial, especially those on vomer. Vertical fins and pectoral fins well developed; dorsal fin origin before or over pectoral base; pelvic fins absent.
Distribution
Benthic on the continental shelves of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Carnivorous. Transparent larval stage (leptocephalus) with metamorphosis.
Recent revisions: Blache, 1968 (on a regional basis only), Castle and Williamson, 1975 (Muraenesox group only).
Note
Some authors include Muraenesocidae in the family Congridae.
Taxa included on this CD-rom:
Congresox talabonoides (Bleeker)
Genus Muraenesox