Common Name
Brazilian Blackeye Cusk-eel
Year Described
Schwarzhans, Nielsen & Mundy, 2022
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 97
Anal Fin: 73-80
Pectoral Fin: 24
Caudal Fin: 8
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 9-10 (developed rakers), 18-21 (total)
Pseudobranchial Filaments: 2-4
Vertebrae: 13-14 pre-caudal + 48-49 caudal = 62 (total)
Leucicorus gerringerae is characterized by an elongate, compressed body with a tapering tail and a broad head with a straight dorsal profile, except for a slight concavity above the eyes. Bones of the head are thin and fragile. Extensive squamation on the head, including the opercle, preopercle, and occiput. The body is fully scaled, with 25 transverse scale rows above the origin of the anal fin. The eyes are relatively large, ranging from 15 to 19% of head length, but notably lack a visible lens. Mouth is terminal, with the upper jaw ending just below the posterior edge of the orbit, and the opercular spine is thin and pointed. Pelvic fins each have two tightly joined rays, and the pectoral fins are located mid-body. Anal fin origin under 19-21st dorsal fin ray. The otoliths are large and elongate, with a droplet-like shape and a length-to-height ratio of 1.62. Both the inner and outer faces of the otolith are equally convex.
Color
Body pale gray. Head gray to blue-gray with darker branchial region. Eyes blue-black.
Size
Maximum size to 23.5cm SL.
Habitat
Known from abyssal depths (4500-5303m).
Range
Two specimens known from the Bahamas and off S. Brazil.
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.