Common Name
Bannikov's Bigscale
Year Described
Kotlyar, 2004
Identification
Dorsal Fin: III, 11
Anal Fin: I, 8
Pectoral Fin: 14
Pelvic Fin: I, 7
Caudal Fin: 9-10 branched, 2-4 procurrent rays
Lateral Scale Rows: 31
Gill Rakers: 15-16
Vertebrae: 25
Head with numerous bony ridges and pits. No post-temporal spines, projecting anterior spines, or raised bony crest on top of head. Preopercle with a notched and spined upper edge. Opercle margin relatively smooth or with weak spination. Gill rakers in first arch relatively few (19 or less). Anal fin origin under the 2-3rd to last dorsal ray. Pectoral fin reaches to last ray of dorsal fin. Pelvic fin origin well behind pectoral fin origin. Body scales large and easily shed.
Color
Uniformly brown with a dark head.
Size
Maximum size to 21.5mm SL (both mature specimens)
Habitat
Two known specimens collected in midwater from 0-1500m.
Range
Known from the type locality in the Caribbean Sea.
References
Kotlyar, A. N. 2004. Revision of the genus Scopeloberyx (Melamphaidae). Part 2. Oligorakered species of the group S. robustus. Journal of Ichthyology, v. 44 (no. 9): 677-689.
Other Notes
The only Atlantic member of the oligo-rakered complex of Scopeloberyx similar to S. robustus (Kotlyar, 2004).