View source for Daggertooth pike conger

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{redirect|Hamo||Haimo (name)}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Daggertooth pike conger
| image = Muraenesox cinereus - 1700-1880 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - UBA01 IZ15200032.tif
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author= McCosker, J.|author2= Smith, D.G.|author3= Tighe, K.|author4= Torres, A.G. |author5= Leander, N.J.S.|name-list-style=amp |year=2021 |title=''Muraenesox cinereus'' |page=e.T199344A2585390 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T199344A2585390.en |access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref>
| taxon = Muraenesox cinereus
| authority = ([[Peter Forsskål|Forsskål]], 1775)<ref>{{ITIS|id=161296 |taxon=Muraenesox cinereus}}</ref>
| synonyms = ''Muraena cinerea '' <small>Forsskål, 1775</small>
}}
The '''daggertooth pike conger''' ('''''Muraenesox cinereus''''') also known as the '''darkfin pike eel''' in [[Australia]], to distinguish it from the related [[Muraenesox bagio|pike-eel]]  (''Muraenesox bagio''),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bray |first1=Dianne J. |title=''Muraenesox cinereus'' |url=https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2043 |website=Fishes of Australia |access-date=4 Sep 2022}}</ref> is a species of [[eel]] in the pike conger family, [[Muraenesocidae]].<ref name="fishbase">{{FishBase |genus=Muraenesox |species=cinereus |id= |month=September |year=2012 }}</ref> They primarily live on soft bottoms in marine and [[brackish]] waters down to a depth of {{cvt|800|m|ft}}, but may enter freshwater.<ref name="fishbase" /> They commonly grow to about {{cvt|1.5|m|ft}} in length,<ref name="FAO">{{cite web |title=''Muraenesox cinereus'' (Forsskal, 1775) |author= |date=2012 |work=Species Fact Sheets |url=http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2205/en |publisher=FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department }}</ref> but may grow as long as {{cvt|2.2|m|ft}}.<ref name="fishbase" /> 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.<ref>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</ref>

== Culinary uses ==
[[File:Muraenesox cineres.jpg|200px|thumb|left|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.<ref name="FAO" /> It is eaten in [[Japanese cuisine]], where it is known as ''hamo'' ([[w:ja:ハモ|ハモ]], 鱧).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8nhfSFs79fUC&pg=PA34|title=Seafood of South-East Asia: a comprehensive guide with recipes |first=Alan |last=Davidson|publisher=Ten Speed Press|year=2003|page=34|isbn=1-58008-452-4}}</ref> In the [[Kansai region|Kansai Region]], ''hamo no kawa'' (pickled conger skins) is a traditional delicacy,{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} and pike conger is a common ingredient in some types of ''[[kamaboko]]'' (fish cake).<ref>{{Cite web|title=かまぼこ製品図鑑 [Kamaboko Products]|url=https://www.nikkama.jp/zukan/|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021|website=日本かまぼこ協会 [Japan Kamaboko Association]|date=18 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227202324/https://www.nikkama.jp/zukan/ |archive-date=2020-02-27 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=かまぼこの種類と歴史 [History and Types of Kamaboko]|url=https://www.e-sutokama.com/kamaboko/type.html|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021|website=上野屋蒲鉾店 [Uenoya Kamaboko]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110223512/http://www.e-sutokama.com:80/kamaboko/type.html |archive-date=2007-01-10 }}</ref> It is also frequently [[Canned fish|canned]] and exported to Asian markets.{{clear|left}}

== Parasites ==

As with other fish, the daggertooth pike conger harbours several species of [[parasite]]s.

A species of [[Trichosomoididae|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.<ref name="Justine2014">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}} [http://folia.paru.cas.cz/pdfs/fol/2014/03/11.pdf Free PDF]  {{open access}}</ref> 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.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Pike conger.jpg|Specimen seen at Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.ART.39 - Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskål) - Kawahara Keiga - 1823 - 1829 - Siebold Collection - pencil drawing - water colour.jpeg|Illustration
File:Hamo.jpg|''Hamo'' with [[umeboshi|pickled plum]]
File:Huffmanela hamo eggs in Muraenesox cinereus 1C.JPG|Eggs of ''[[Huffmanela hamo]]'' in muscles
</gallery>[[File:Daggertooth pike conger, capture production, thousand tonnes, 1950-2022.svg|thumb|Global capture production of Daggertooth pike conger (''Muraenesox cinereus'') in thousand tonnes from 1950 to 2022, as reported by the [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fisheries and Aquaculture - Global Production |url=https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/collection/global_production?lang=en |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)}}</ref>]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.dangerouslogic.com/archive/001187.html ''Iron Chef'' Battle: Pike Eel]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1151328}}

[[Category:Muraenesox|daggertooth pike conger]]
[[Category:Fish of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Commercial fish]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1775|daggertooth pike conger]]


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