conger eel; garden eel
Refers to the common Japanese conger eel (Conger myriaster) and similar species. Often used in cooking.
Tonight's dinner is conger eel tempura.
水族館でアナゴが砂から顔を出しているのを見た。
I saw garden eels poking their heads out of the sand at the aquarium.
鰻 is the (freshwater-born) Japanese eel typically grilled as unaju/unadon, while あなご is the milder, softer conger eel usually served raw or lightly simmered on sushi.
Katakana spelling is common in everyday use, especially in culinary contexts. It is usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling, but less common than kana.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Rarely used kanji form.
The word likely derives from 穴 (ana, 'hole') + 子 (ko, 'child' or diminutive suffix), referring to the eel's habit of hiding in holes. The exact origin is uncertain.