Common Name
Smallscale Smoothhead
Year Described
Günther, 1878
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 15-17
Anal Fin: 15-16
Pectoral Fin: 10-14
Pelvic Fin: 8
Lateral Line: 47-49
Transverse Scale Rows: 59-77 (above lateral line)
Gill Rakers: 29-36 (total on first arch)
Branchiostegal Rays: 7-8
Pyloric Caeca: 13
Body moderately elongate and slender, with a large head. Eye diameter 1.2-1.6 times snout length. Teeth present in a single row in upper jaw, lower jaw, palatine, and vomer. Rear margin of jaw extends to the posterior margin of orbit. Two supramaxilla above maxilla. Dorsal fin origin anterior to anal fin origin. Pectoral fin fairly long; extends nearly to pelvic base. Scales absent on head, including cheek and operculum. Body scales small; scales above lateral line smaller than lateral line scales.
Color
Uniformly dark brown
Size
Maximum size to 30cm SL.
Habitat
Benthopelagic from 1,100-3,984m.
Range
The western North Atlantic from off the east coast of the U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico. Also off Brazil.
References
Costa, P.A.S.; Braga, A.C.; Melo, M.R.S.; Nunan, G.W.A.; Martins, A.S.; & Olavo, G. 2007. Assembleias de teleósteos demersais no talude da costa central brasileira. p. 87–107. In: Costa, P.A.S.; Olavo, G.; Martins, A.S. (eds.). Biodiversidade da fauna marinha profunda na costa central brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: Museu Nacional (Série Livros 24).
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.