Common Name
Manypored Whalefish
Year Described
Parr, 1934
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 16
Anal Fin: 17
Pectoral Fin: 19
Lateral Line Pores: 25
Gill Arches: 3.5
Upper jaw length 28% SL. Predorsal Length 71% SL. Body rather elongated with a huge mouth (third of body length). Head as broad as body (unlike all other Cetomimus where the head is much broader than body). Snout rounded. Eye tiny. Nasal organ small. Jaws slightly concave. Gill tooth plates contiguous. Lateral line conspicuous with large round pores inside a channel with raised rim. No vertical rows of papillae on lateral line. Dermal flaps absent. Lateral line system continues onto head as a series of pores and sensory openings. Additional pores on lower jaw and snout. Jaw teeth tiny in several irregular, diagonal rows. Vomerine tooth patch round or oval. Dorsal and anal fins located far back on body, with bases slightly elevated. Cavernous tissue located around the anus, the anterior anal fin base, and dorsal fin. Caudal fin with less than 17 principle rays. Pelvic fin absent. Pectoral fin small and inserted low on body. Body flabby and scaleless except for large, diagnostic scales associated with the lateral line canals.
Males and juveniles unknown.
Color
Body uniformly black.
Size
Maximum size to 47.5mm SL.
Habitat
Taken by trawl in the bathypelagic zone but depth not stated.
Range
Known only from off the Bahamas.
References
Harry, R.R. 1952. Deep-sea fishes of the Bermuda oceanographic expeditions. Families Cetomimidae and Rondeletiidae. Zoologica, Scientific Contributions of the New York Zoological Society v. 37 (pt 1, no. 5): 55-72, Pl. 1.
Maul, G.E. 1969. On the genus Cetomimus (Cetomimidae) with the description of a new species. Bocagiana. Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural) No. 18: 1-12.
Parr, A.E. 1934. Report on experimental use of a triangular trawl for bathypelagic collecting with an account of the fishes obtained and a revision of the family Cetomimidae. Bulletin of the Bingham Oceanographic Collection Yale University v. 4 (art. 6): 1-59.
Paxton, J.R. 1989. Synopsis of the whalefishes (family Cetomimidae) with descriptions of four new genera. Records of the Australian Museum v. 41: 135-206.
Other Notes
The narrow head easily distinguishes this from all other Cetomimus, which have a head much wider than the body. All other characters are typical of Cetomimus.