Common Name
Smalleye Smoothhead
Year Described
Gill, 1883
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 17
Anal Fin: 17
Pectoral Fin: 10
Pelvic Fin: 7
Lateral Line Scales: 58
Gill Rakers: 23-24 (total)
Pyloric Caeca: 14-15
Vertebrae: 24 precaudal, 26-28 caudal
Body moderately elongate and slender, with a very large head. Eyes smaller than snout. Teeth present on premaxilla, dentaries, and palatine but absent on the maxilla and vomer. Two supramaxilla above the maxilla. Rear margin of jaw ends to the anterior margin of orbit. Dorsal fin origin slightly anterior to anal fin. Pectoral and pelvic fins very small. Transverse scale rows from first lateral scale to dorsal fin number 30-40.
Color
Dark brown.
Size
Maximum size to over 43cm SL.
Habitat
Benthopelagic from 2,000-2,500m over soft bottoms.
Range
Known from a few scattered records in the northwestern Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean.
References
McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. i-viii + 1-1112.
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