| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Ophidiinae |
| Max. size: |
28 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 94.9 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 29 - 399 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Georges Bank, Canada to the Florida Keys and the northern and eastern Gulf of Mexico. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 129-142; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 109-121; Vertebrae: 73-78. This species possess the following characters: usually with 15 precaudal, 58-59 caudal, and 74-76 total vertebral counts; number of fin rays usually in dorsal 131-137, anal 112-117, pectoral 21-23; pyloric caeca 3 (2-4) in tiers of 2-3 caeca in the first and one in the second; total gill rakers on first arch 9-11 (8-13). Colour of head and body tan to brown, belly whitish; a conspicuous and diagnostic series of 14-23 pale spots, which are slightly smaller than the eye but larger than the pupil, extending from just behind the opercle to the caudal-fin base; a second series of smaller pale spots running along the anterior part of the body just below the dorsal-fin base (spots largely disappear in old museum specimens); dorsal and anal fins dark-edged posteriorly; gill chamber, gill bars, esophagus and the roof of the mouth behind the vomer and between the palatines blackish; stomach and hindgut unpigmented (Ref. 91765). |
| Biology: |
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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