Common Name
Fringed Cusk-eel
Year Described
Robins, Robins & Brown, 2012
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 124-135 (usually 127-133)
Anal Fin: 105-117 (usually 107-113)
Pelvic Fin: 2
Pectoral Fin: 20-25 (usually 21-23)
Caudal Fin: 9
Gill Rakers: 10-13 (total developed and rudiments)
Pseudobranchial Filaments:
Vertebrae: 14-15 (precaudal), 56-60 (caudal), 71-74 (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 three 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 and head tan grading to whitish on the belly. Dorsal and anal fins with black margins. Snout tip same color as body. Inside of mouth, gill bars, and esopagus blackish. Rearward on opercle and hindgut pale.
Size
Maximum size to 209mm SL.
Habitat
Found in shallow to deeper waters over soft bottoms from 60-402m.
Range
The Gulf of Mexico to the Bahamas and the Caribbean Sea south to Tobago. Appears to be found in both insular and 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 kallion, and L. crossotum are the only two Atlantic species known with fringing on the snout.