Common Name
Flabby Giant Brotula
Year Described
Vaillant, 1888
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 121-131
Anal Fin: 91-102
Pectoral Fin: 24-27
Caudal Fin: 8-10
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 8-10 (developed on first arch)
Vertebrae: 20-22 (precaudal), 72-79 (total)
Body heavy, elongate, laterally compressed.. The body tapers gradually towards the tail, and the head is relatively large and deep, measuring between 4.6 to 5.6 times in SL and 2.00 to 2.72 times in preanal length. Head depth through the eye ranges from 8.2 to 11 times in SL. The snout is blunt and projects beyond the mouth, which is subterminal and wide, with the upper jaw extending well behind the eye. Minute, robust, and blunt teeth are present on the jaws and vomer, which has a triangular or rhombic shape. Opercular spine strong. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail. Pectoral fins are located low on the body, short (9.6–11 times in SL), and relatively broad at the base (23–27 times in SL). Pelvic fins are reduced, thread-like, with two rays, extending about halfway to the anal-fin origin. The body is entirely covered with small, oval, embedded scales. The otoliths are oval to elongate (length to height ratio 1.34–2.10), with a pointed posterior tip and rounded anterior tip. The sulcus is moderately long (43–72% of otolith length) and centrally located; the ostium is vertically expanded, with a width 22–30% of sulcus length and 31–40% of ostium length in larger specimens.
Color
Larger adults uniformly dark brown on body and fins. Younger fish pale brown with darker unpaired fins.
Size
Maximum size to 60cm SL.
Habitat
Benthopelagic from 1580-4255m.
Range
Numerous records from the central North Atlantic in the vicinity of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
References
Uiblein, F., P. R. Møller, & J. G. Nielsen. 2023. The Systematics of the ophidiid genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) revisited with description of a new species and resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 111(3), 467-485.
Other Notes
This species has much lower meristic values than the other described species of Spectrunculus.