Neobythites multidigitatus

Common Name

Many-rayed Brotula

Year Described

Nielsen, 1999

Identification

Dorsal Fin: 110
Anal Fin: 91
Pelvic Fin: 2
Pectoral Fin: 32
Caudal Fin: 8
Gill Rakers: 10 (only long rakers)
Pseudobranchial Filaments: 3
Vertebrae: 65 (15 precaudal)

Body elongated and eel-like. Snout blunt. Jaw extends past posterior margin of orbit. Teeth present in jaws, on palatine, and on vomer. Anterior basibranchial tooth path narrows on posterior end. Preopercular spines number 2. Spines on preopercle strong. Opercular spine strong. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin. Pelvic fin reaches halfway to the anus. Lateral line not obvious. Body scales cycloid.

Color

Uniformly dark brown over head and body. No stripes or ocelli present.

Size

The holotype measures 79mm SL

Habitat

The holotype was collected at 641m.

Range

Known only from the Bahamas.

References

Nielsen, J. G. 1999. A review of the genus Neobythites (Pisces, Ophidiidae) in the Atlantic, with three new species. Bulletin of Marine Science v. 64 (no. 2): 335-372.

Other Notes

This is easily distinguished from all other Atlantic Neobythites by pectoral counts and the number of precaudal vertebrae.