Common Name
Blacknosed Brotula
Year Described
Cohen, 1981
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 74
Anal Fin: 37
Caudal Fin: 10
Pectoral Fin: 18
Vertebrae: 45 (16 precaudal)
Body robust but elongate. Snout pointed. Head wide and about 27-28% of standard length. Broad ridge on frontal behind eyes. Head pores reduced (1 supraorbital, 2 infraorbital, 2 mandibular). Many small sensory papillae scattered on head and cheeks. Eye small and sunken. Rear nostril smaller than eye. Mouth large, extending well past eye. Teeth present on both jaws, palatine and vomer. Maxilla with expanded posterior. Gill opening reaches level of pectoral fin base. Gill filaments 2-3 times longer than rakers. Opercular spine present but under skin. Pectoral fin medium. Pectoral peduncle slightly elongate but not free. Pelvic fin a single filamentous ray. Dorsal fin origin over pectoral fin. Anal fin placed far back on body. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with caudal fin. Penis thin and long and protrudes from a fleshy bump. Scales absent on head and body.
Color
Body uniformly brown, becoming darker dorsally and toward the tail. Fin edges pale. Nasal organs and head papillae black.
Size
Known specimen 66mm SL.
Habitat
Shallow coral reefs (8m).
Range
Only known from Colombia.
References
Cohen, D.M. 1987. Notes on the bythitid fish genus Saccogaster with a new species from the Gulf of Mexico. Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles Co., Contr. Sci., 385, 1-4.
Nielsen, J.G., Schwarzhans, W., & D.M Cohen. 2012. Revision of Hastatobythites and Saccogaster (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with three new species and a new genus. Zootaxa, 3579(1), 1-36.
Other Notes
The only member of Saccogaster/Parasaccogaster/Hastatobythites to be found in shallow water. More likely to be confused with a Ogilbia/Ogilbichthys than any deepsea ophiidiform.