Common Name
Eel-like Brotula
Year Described
Cohen, 1987
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 77
Anal Fin: 49
Caudal Fin: 12
Pectoral Fin: 12
Pelvic Fin: 1
Vertebrae: 20+38=58
Branchiostegal Rays: 7
Body robust but more elongated and eel-like than relatives. Snout blunt.
Head about 20% of standard length. Anterior head pores reduced (1 supraorbital, 2 infraorbital, 2 mandibular). Eye small and sunken. Rear nostril larger than eye. Mouth large, extending well past eye. Teeth present on both jaws and vomer. Maxilla with expanded posterior and a recurved projection on the lower angle. Gill opening reaches level of pectoral fin base. Opercular spine present but under skin. Pectoral fin small. Pectoral peduncle elongate but not free. Pelvic fin a single filamentous ray. Dorsal fin origin over gill opening. 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
Coloration of preserved specimen uniformly brown without markings. Fin edges darker brown.
Size
Holotype (male) is about 60mm SL.
Habitat
Benthic. Holotype captured at 210m.
Range
Gulf of Mexico: off the Mississippi Delta.
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
More eel-like and with higher anal fin counts than other Parasaccogaster or Saccogaster spp.