Common Name
Hairfin Smoothhead
Year Described
Vaillant, 1888
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 21-24
Anal Fin: 20-24
Pectoral Fin: 11-13
Pelvic Fin: 7
Lateral Line Scales: 52-55
Gill Rakers: 24-28 (total on first arch)
Branchiostegal rays: 7-8
Pyloric Caeca: 10-11
Vertebrae: 17-19 precaudal, 29-32 caudal
Body moderately slender and elongate, with a large head. Eyes slightly smaller than snout. Snout long and pointed (10-12% SL). Premaxiila, maxilla, dentary, palatine, and vomer with teeth. Two supramaxilla above maxilla. Rear margin of jaw extends well beyond posterior margin of orbit. Dorsal fin directly over anal fin. Pectoral and pelvic fins small. Upper pectoral ray thickened and filamentous. Caudal fin deeply forked with extended tips. Body and head with scales.
Color
Uniformly blackish.
Size
Maximum size to 29cm SL.
Habitat
Benthopelagic from 560-1,690m.
Range
Scattered records from the Gulf of Mexico to Suriname and northeastern Brazil.
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