Common Name
Bathyal Halosaur
Year Described
Sulak, 1977
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 10-11
Anal Fin:
Pectoral Fin: 9-11
Pelvic Fin: I, 8 (rarely 9)
Lateral Line Scales: 16-21 (to anus)
Branchiostegal Rays: 9-11
Gill Rakers: 19-23 (total on first arch)
Pyloric Caeca: 5-8
Body very elongate and moderately compressed. Skin loose and oily. Mouth relatively small. Palatine tooth patch separated from pterygoid by a distance 1-4 times its length. Snout relatively short. Scales absent on top of head and opercle. Lateral line scales two times larger than the body scales. Lateral line scales continuous with each other. First dorsal ray is very short and vestigial. Dorsal fin origin posterior to pelvic fin origin.
Color
Dark chocolate brown with a black head. Fresh individuals with blue marking on head. Fins are black. Vent white.
Size
Maximum size to 52cm TL.
Habitat
Deep waters over soft bottoms from 1184-1910m.
Range
Scattered records from off New England to off the Bahamas and NE South America (Venezuela to the Guianas).
References
Sulak, K. J. 1977. Aldrovandia oleosa, a new species of the Halosauridae, with observations on several other species of the family. Copeia 1977 (no. 1): 11-20.