Occurs in the section of the southern Australian coast where the eastern conger is absent. It differs from that species in having a slightly longer dorsal fin (starting above rather than just behind the tip of the pectoral fin) and lacking pale colouration under the head. During the day it remains hidden in caves, with the tip of the tail often protruding.

• Max Size: 200 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 9.9-21.2°C
• Depth: 0-80m
• Habitat: Rocky Reef

• IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
• Occurrence: Infrequent (3% of sites)
  Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
• Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.