Unidentified Eel

I and several other divers saw an eel on the St Dunstan on Saturday, but
nobody knows what it was. I'm posting this in the hope that someone else
can identify it.

It was between 4-6' long (I could see both head and tail, but most of the
body was hidden beneath the wreck), with a body about the same diameter as a
tennis ball, maybe a little smaller, but the most striking thing about it
was its colour - shocking, electric blue, even without shining the torch on
it. I've never seen anythng like it, nor had anyone else. I've seen eels
before, but never, ever this colour.

Is it native or a foreign interloper? Is is a normal specimen or a
mutation? Can anyone tell me?

Please...I'm really intrigued.

John

Conger
"John Wells" <john.r.wells@nospamtlworld.com> wrote in message
news:8i6vc.173$Xh3.168@newsfe1-gui.server.ntli.net...
> I and several other divers saw an eel on the St Dunstan on Saturday, but
> nobody knows what it was. I'm posting this in the hope that someone else
> can identify it.
>
> It was between 4-6' long (I could see both head and tail, but most of the
> body was hidden beneath the wreck), with a body about the same diameter as
a
> tennis ball, maybe a little smaller, but the most striking thing about it
> was its colour - shocking, electric blue, even without shining the torch
on
> it. I've never seen anythng like it, nor had anyone else. I've seen eels
> before, but never, ever this colour.
>
> Is it native or a foreign interloper? Is is a normal specimen or a
> mutation? Can anyone tell me?
>
> Please...I'm really intrigued.
>
> John
>
>

In article <8i6vc.173$Xh3.168@newsfe1-gui.server.ntli.net>,
John Wells <john.r.wells@nospamtlworld.com> wrote:
>I and several other divers saw an eel on the St Dunstan on Saturday, but
>nobody knows what it was. I'm posting this in the hope that someone else
>can identify it.
>
>It was between 4-6' long (I could see both head and tail, but most of the
>body was hidden beneath the wreck), with a body about the same diameter as a
>tennis ball, maybe a little smaller, but the most striking thing about it
>was its colour - shocking, electric blue, even without shining the torch on
>it. I've never seen anythng like it, nor had anyone else. I've seen eels
>before, but never, ever this colour.

Sounds like a common or garden Conger to me...

Eg:

http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger1.jpg

http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger2.jpg

http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger3.jpg

and

http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...mages/pic1.jpg

Gordon

"Gordon Henderson" <gordon@auntyspume.drogon.net> wrote in message
news:c9itku$oco$1@lion.drogon.net...
> In article <8i6vc.173$Xh3.168@newsfe1-gui.server.ntli.net>,
> John Wells <john.r.wells@nospamtlworld.com> wrote:
> >I and several other divers saw an eel on the St Dunstan on Saturday, but
> >nobody knows what it was. I'm posting this in the hope that someone else
> >can identify it.
> >
> >It was between 4-6' long (I could see both head and tail, but most of the
> >body was hidden beneath the wreck), with a body about the same diameter
as a
> >tennis ball, maybe a little smaller, but the most striking thing about it
> >was its colour - shocking, electric blue, even without shining the torch
on
> >it. I've never seen anythng like it, nor had anyone else. I've seen
eels
> >before, but never, ever this colour.
>
> Sounds like a common or garden Conger to me...
>
> Eg:
>
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger1.jpg
>
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger2.jpg
>
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger3.jpg
>
> and
>
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...mages/pic1.jpg
>
> Gordon

Nice pictures!

I've never seen one this colour though - do they go through some sort of
colour change during their lifecycle?

I have just returned from a weeks diving in the channel, & I have seen LOTS
of congers, & they all seem to be the vivid blue colour that you describe.
Maybe it's the time of year / breeding season etc. The smaller ones,
possibly juveniles are the brightest blue. Whilst the biggies tend to be
more on the grey side but still blue nevertheless.
BTW Conger is very good eating, just like white fillet steak. Grill it with
butter, salt, black pepper & a squeeze of lemon, lovely!!
"John Wells" <john.r.wells@nospamtlworld.com> wrote in message
news:TEevc.11$xg2.10@newsfe1-win...
> "Gordon Henderson" <gordon@auntyspume.drogon.net> wrote in message
> news:c9itku$oco$1@lion.drogon.net...
> > In article <8i6vc.173$Xh3.168@newsfe1-gui.server.ntli.net>,
> > John Wells <john.r.wells@nospamtlworld.com> wrote:
> > >I and several other divers saw an eel on the St Dunstan on Saturday,
but
> > >nobody knows what it was. I'm posting this in the hope that someone
else
> > >can identify it.
> > >
> > >It was between 4-6' long (I could see both head and tail, but most of
the
> > >body was hidden beneath the wreck), with a body about the same diameter
> as a
> > >tennis ball, maybe a little smaller, but the most striking thing about
it
> > >was its colour - shocking, electric blue, even without shining the
torch
> on
> > >it. I've never seen anythng like it, nor had anyone else. I've seen
> eels
> > >before, but never, ever this colour.
> >
> > Sounds like a common or garden Conger to me...
> >
> > Eg:
> >
> >
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger1.jpg
> >
> >
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger2.jpg
> >
> >
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...es/conger3.jpg
> >
> > and
> >
> >
>
http://www.drogon.net/personal/photo...mages/pic1.jpg
> >
> > Gordon
>
> Nice pictures!
>
> I've never seen one this colour though - do they go through some sort of
> colour change during their lifecycle?
>
>