Common Name
Palenose Cusk-eel
Year Described
Robins, 1959
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 129-137 (usually 131-135)
Anal Fin: 108-115 (usually 110-113)
Pelvic Fin: 2
Pectoral Fin: 21-24 (usually 22-23)
Caudal Fin: 9
Gill Rakers: 9-11 (total developed and rudiments)
Pseudobranchial Filaments:
Vertebrae: 14-16 (precaudal), 57-60 (caudal), 71-75 (total)
Body elongate and tapering symmetrically rearward to a pointed tail. Body depth greatest at dorsal fin origin. Snout blunt. Lower snout with extensive fringing (unique to only two W. Atlantic species). 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 4-5 (3-6).
Color
Body pale brown with a conspicuous pale lateral line bordered above and below by a dark brown stripe or broken dashes. Additional spots present on the upper trunk and above the pectoral fin. Dorsal and anal fins with dark margins extending to tail. Top of head and snout distinctly pale. Inside of mouth, gill area, and entire gut darkly pigmented.
Size
Maximum size to 166mm SL.
Habitat
A deeper water species found on soft bottoms from 366-1097m.
Range
The Bahamas to the Lesser Antilles. Also off Belize but seems mostly absent from continental localities.
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, Lepophidium wileyi, and L. crossotum are the only two Atlantic species known with fringing on the snout.