Common Name
Fawn Cusk-eel
Year Described
Gill, 1863
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 129-142 (usually 131-137)
Anal Fin: 109-121 (usually 112-117)
Pelvic Fin: 2
Pectoral Fin: 20-24 (usually 21-23)
Caudal Fin: 9
Gill Rakers: 8-13 (total developed and rudiments)
Pseudobranchial Filaments: 10 well developed
Vertebrae: 14-16 (precaudal), 57-61 (caudal), 73-78 (total)
Body elongate, slender, and tapering symmetrically rearward to a pointed tail. Body depth greatest at dorsal fin origin. Head short (HL 17% of SL). Snout blunt. A rostral spine is present on the snout tip. Eyes moderate. Mouth fairly large, extending to about even with rear margin of orbit. Supramaxilla present, with ventral hooked process. Teeth present on dentary, premaxilla, vomer, palatines, and pharyngeals. Basibranchial teeth absent. Opercular spine long but rather weak. Dorsal and anal fins long and confluent with caudal fin. Pelvic fin jugular and filamentous. Pectoral fins fanlike. Body and part of head with small cycloid scales. Lower cheek, opercle, base of pectoral fin and isthmus naked. Lateral line simple and incomplete. Pyloric caeca usually 2-4.
Color
Body and head brown to yellow-brown. Body paler ventrally. A conspicuous series of 14-23 white spots run from gills to tail base. A second incomplete line of smaller white spots along anterior body ends under dorsal fin. Fins body colored with black margins posteriorly. Roof of mouth, gill area, and esophagus black. Rest of gut unmarked.
Size
Maximum size to 257mm SL. Common over 200mm SL.
Habitat
A relatively shallow water species found on soft bottoms from 29-399m.
Range
Off Massachusetts to Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Also off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.
References
Robins, C. R., R.H. Robins & M.E. Brown. 2012. A revision of Lepophidium (Teleostei, Ophidiidae), with descriptions of eight new species. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History. University of Florida. 94 pages.