Common Name
Dusky Cusk-eel
Year Described
Robins, 1961
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 106-115
Anal Fin: 92-100
Pelvic Fin: 2
Pectoral Fin: 20-23
Caudal Fin: 9
Gill Rakers: 17-22 (total developed and rudiments)
Pseudobranchial Filaments:
Vertebrae: 12-13 (precaudal), 49-53 (caudal), 61-66 (total)
Body slender, 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 jugular, rather short 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 4 (4-7).
Color
Head and body brown without markings. Belly white. Dorsal fin with a dark margin. Anal fin mostly dark. Inside of mouth, gill area, and esophagus darkly pigmented. Rest of gut pale.
Size
Maximum size to 189mm SL.
Habitat
A shallow water species found on soft bottoms from 46-186m.
Range
Honduras to French Guiana on the continental Caribbean coast.
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.
Other Notes
This species and Lepophidium robustum have by far the highest counts of total gill rakers in members of this genus, but differ greatly from each other in finray counts.