Common Name
Michael Sar's Smoothhead
Year Described
Koefoed, 1927
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 12-16
Anal Fin: 9-13
Pectoral Fin: 15-17
Pelvic Fin: 7-9
Transverse Scale Rows:
Gill Rakers: 27-34 (total on first arch)
Branchiostegal Rays: 7-8
Pyloric Caeca: 7-15
Body moderately elongate and slender, with a large head. Eyes about equal to snout length. Teeth present in a single row in upper and lower jaws. Rear margin of jaw extends to the posterior margin of orbit. Two supramaxilla above maxilla. Dorsal fin origin anterior to anal fin origin. Pectoral fins fairly large. Scales absent on head. Body scales moderate.
Color
Uniformly dark brown
Size
Maximum size to 37cm SL.
Habitat
Benthopelagic from 2,600-4,000m.
Range
Northwestern Atlantic off the E. U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. Also off eastern 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.
Other Notes
Also in the literature under the name Bellocia michaelsarsi.