Common Name
Bean's Bigscale
Year Described
Günther, 1887
Identification
Dorsal Fin: III, 10-11
Anal Fin: I, 7-8
Pectoral Fin: 14-16
Pelvic Fin: I, 7
Caudal Fin: 9-10 branched, 2-4 procurrent rays
Lateral Scale Rows: less than 12
Gill Rakers: 26-32
Vertebrae: 25-27
Head with numerous bony ridges and pits. Body scales huge and shaggy (often missing in specimens and represented by large pockets). No post-temporal spines, projecting anterior spines, or raised bony crest on top of head. Preopercle and opercle margins relatively smooth or with weak spination. Gill rakers in first arch relatively few (19 or less). Anal fin origin under last few dorsal rays. Pectoral fin reaches last ray of dorsal fin. Pelvic fin origin well behind pectoral fin origin.
Color
Uniformly brown to black
Size
Maximum size to 122mm SL
Habitat
Juveniles taken between 500-600m. Adults are mesopelagic between 800-1000m.
Range
Known from the Gulf Stream region off the eastern U.S. and one record in the Gulf of Mexico.
References
McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. i-viii + 1-1112.