The Identity ofConger japonicus(Anguilliformes: Congridae)

The number of species of the congrid eel genus Conger in Japan has been unsettled for more than half a century. The principal authors have disagreed over how many species are present and what their correct names are. The main question involves the identity of Conger japonicus Bleeker, 1879. It has variously been treated as a valid species or a synonym of Conger myriaster (Brevoort, 1856). We examined the holotype and determined that Conger japonicus is a synonym of Conger myriaster. The four valid species of Conger in Japan are Conger cinereus, Conger myriaster, Conger erebennus, and Conger jordani.