Common Name
Barred Cusk-eel
Year Described
Robins 1959
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 140-147 (usually 142-145)
Anal Fin: 120-125
Pelvic Fin: 2
Pectoral Fin: 22-23
Caudal Fin: 9
Gill Rakers: 11-14 (total developed and rudiments)
Pseudobranchial Filaments:
Vertebrae: 14-15 (precaudal), 65-67 (caudal), 80-83 (total)
Body elongate and tapering symmetrically rearward to a pointed tail. Body depth greatest at dorsal fin origin. 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 strong. Dorsal and anal fins long and confluent with caudal fin. Pelvic fin long (longer than pectoral), 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 3-4.
Color
Body and head tan to reddish-brown. Belly paler. There are 4-6 dark bars on body: first two bars run about halfway down the body and continue onto dorsal fin, and bars 3-6 encircle body completely. Body bars edged with thick pale borders. Several additional black blotches on rear dorsal fin. Lower tail black. Dorsal and anal fins without black margins. Gill area and esophagus black. Rest of gut and roof of mouth unmarked.
Size
Maximum size to 273mm SL.
Habitat
A deeper water species found on soft bottoms from 182-485m.
Range
N. Yucatan Peninsula to E. Nicaragua.
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.