Common Name
Robust Brotula
Year Described
Nielsen, Ross & Cohen, 2009
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 85-93
Anal Fin: 75-88
Pectoral Fin: 23-25
Caudal Fin: 7
Vertebrae: 12 precaudal, 48-51 total
Gill Rakers: 5-6 (long rakers)
Body short and robust (depth at anal fin origin 17.5-23% SL). Tail tapering. Head very large (>30% SL). Head pores well developed. Mouth large. Fangs poorly developed. Preopercle with four obvious spines on margin and one at top. Opercular spine covered in skin. Spine present on cleithrum above pectoral base. Dorsal fin near mid-body. Anal fin far back (below dorsal ray 10-18). Dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail. Pelvic fins absent. Pectoral fin fanlike with a short peduncle. Body fully scaled. Head only partly scaled.
Color
Body uniformly dark to medium brown. Fins lighter in color.
Size
Specimens range from 34-82mm SL.
Habitat
Seems to be associated with hard bottom habitats on deep Lophelia reefs or on rocky substrate (506-580m).
Range
Gulf of Mexico: known from a handful of specimens off the Mississippi Delta.
References
Nielsen, J.G., Ross, S.W., & D.M. Cohen. 2009. Atlantic occurrence of the genus Bellottia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with two new species from the Western North Atlantic. Zootaxa, 2018(1), 45-57.
Other Notes
This genus is known from very few specimens but the two Atlantic species seem to be distinguished by the number of precaudal vertebrae, the presence of a spine on the preopercular crest, origin of anal fin, and body depth (Nielsen et al., 2009).