Common Name
Atlantic Blackeyed Cusk-eel
Year Described
Nielsen, 1975
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 82-94
Anal Fin: 68-80
Pectoral Fin: 22-24
Caudal Fin: 8
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 9-12 (developed rakers), 18-22 (total)
Pseudobranchial Filaments: 1-3
Vertebrae: 13-14 pre-caudal + 47-49 caudal = 61-62 (total)
Leucicorus atlanticus is distinguished by its elongate, compressed body with a tapering tail and a broad, somewhat depressed head composed of thin, fragile bones. Squamation on the head reduced, with the preopercle, opercle, and occiput being nearly naked. Body is covered with scales, and there are 18 to 20 transverse scale rows above the origin of the anal fin. The eyes are relatively small, comprising only 10 to 13.5% of head length, and the lens is either minute or absent, making up less than 10% of the eye diameter. Mouth is terminal, with the upper jaw ending below the posterior margin of the orbit, and the opercular spine is thin, pointed, and nearly covered by skin. Anal fin origin under 15-18th ray of dorsal fin. Pelvic fins consist of two tightly joined rays, and the pectoral fins are positioned at mid-body. The otoliths are roundish and massive, with a length-to-height ratio of 1.2 to 1.55. They are characterized by a flat inner face and a strongly convex outer face.
Color
Body whitish to pale gray. Specimens (larger size) occasionally with random dark blotches and speckles. Head gray to blue-gray with darker branchial region. Eyes jet black.
Size
Maximum size to 24cm SL.
Habitat
Specimens collected near the bottom at abyssal depths (4350-6800m).
Range
Known mostly from the central Caribbean Sea (S. of the Greater Antilles) but also east of the Bahamas. Also a few specimens from the E. Atlantic and W. Pacific.
References
Schwarzhans, W. W., J. G. Nielsen & B. C. Mundy. 2022. Revision of the circumglobal deep-sea genus Leucicorus (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) with two new species. Zootaxa, 5100(4), 541-558.
Other Notes
The two Atlantic Leucicorus can be distinguished by the extend of head squamation, the position of the anal fin origin relative to the dorsal fin, and dorsal fin ray counts.