Alepocephalus bairdii

Common Name

Baird's Smoothhead

Year Described

Goode & Bean, 1879

Identification

Dorsal Fin: 18-22
Anal Fin: 21-25
Pectoral Fin: 10-13
Pelvic Fin: 7-9
Lateral Line Scales: 62-70
Gill Rakers: 26-27 (total)
Pyloric Caeca: 14-18

Body quite slender and elongate with a large head. Eyes larger than snout and placed far forward on the head. Rear margin of jaw ends at the middle of orbit. Dorsal fin origin about even with anal fin. Pectoral and pelvic fins small.

Color

Black to dark brown, with a darker head.

Size

Maximum size to 100cm SL.

Habitat

Demersal to epibenthic from 365-1,700m, over soft bottoms.

Range

Northwestern Atlantic: Greenland to off the northeastern coast of N. America.

References

Whitehead, P.J.P. , M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J.G. Nielsen and E. Tortonese. 1986. Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Vol. I-III. UNESCO. Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. http://species-identification.org