Common Name
Common Tripodfish
Year Described
Goode & Bean, 1886
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 12-13
Anal Fin: 12-13
Pelvic Fin: 8 (first thickened and elongate)
Pectoral Fin: 2 tiny upper rays; then 7-10 major rays (upper the longest); then 1-2 tiny lower rays
Branchiostegal Rays: 10-11
Gill Rakers: 8-9, 1 on corner, then 19-23 on lower limb (first arch)
Lateral Line: 52-54
Vertebrae: 53-54
Body fairly elongate with a tiny eye and a large mouth. Teeth recurved and relatively large. Pectoral fin simple, with upper elongated rays not extending past last dorsal ray. Ventral fins with first ray thickened and greatly elongated (greater than SL). Anal fin origin under middle of dorsal fin. Lowermost caudal fin principle rays are greatly elongated (greater than SL). There is no sub-caudal notch. Adipose fin absent. Body scales small and simple.
Color
Body black with scale pockets outlined in white (forming reticulate pattern). Head and gill area black.
Size
Maximum size to over 300mm SL.
Habitat
Deep continental slope and rise from 878-3,980m. Props itself over soft bottoms on its elongated pelvic and caudal fin rays.
Range
New England to the Caribbean Sea, including the Gulf of Mexico. Also off SE Brazil.
References
McEachran, J.D. & J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. i-viii + 1-1112.