Common Name
Blackthroat Cusk-eel
Year Described
Robins, Robins & Brown, 2012
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 125-133 (usually 128-132)
Anal Fin: 103-114 (usually 107-110)
Pelvic Fin: 2
Pectoral Fin: 20-25 (usually 22-24)
Caudal Fin: 9
Gill Rakers: 10-18 (total developed and rudiments)
Pseudobranchial Filaments:
Vertebrae: 14-16 (precaudal), 56-60 (caudal), 71-75 (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 3-7 (4-6).
Color
Head and body brown without markings. Dorsal and anal fin with a dark margin. Pectoral fin clear to dusky. Inside of mouth, gill area, and gut blackish.
Size
Maximum size to 256mm SL.
Habitat
Known in shallower to deep water from 55-439m over soft bottoms.
Range
The N. Gulf of Mexico to the western Caribbean Sea (Yucatan to Nicaragua). On continental shelves only.
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 and Lepophidium zophochir are closely related, but have some meristic differences and are completely allopatric in distribution.