Common Name
Atlantic Giant Brotula
Year Described
Uiblein, Møller & Nielsen, 2023
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 137-148
Anal Fin: 102-112
Pectoral Fin: 24-29
Caudal Fin: 8-9
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 8-10 (developed on first arch)
Vertebrae: 22-26 (precaudal), 80-88 (total)
Body heavy, elongate, laterally compressed.. The body tapers gradually towards the tail, and the head is relatively large and deep, measuring between 4.7 to 5.6 times in SL and 2.23 to 2.75 times in preanal length. Head depth through the eye ranges from 7.8 to 9.5 times in SL. The snout is rounded and shorter than the diameter of the circular orbit (snout 9.9–12% HL). The mouth is subterminal, with the upper jaw extending well behind the eye, and is armed with minute, blunt, and robust teeth on the jaws and a triangular or rhombic vomer. Opercular spine strong. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail. Pectoral fins are located low on the body and are short and relatively broad at the base. 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 otolith is elongate with a pointed posterior tip and a rounded anterior, and its length-to-height ratio ranges from 1.41 to 2.25. The sulcus is long (54–81% of otolith length) and centrally located, with well-separated colliculi. Importantly, the ostium is narrow, measuring only 15–21% of the sulcus length and 19–29% of the ostium length.
Color
Body of freshly caught fish pale cream with darker unpaired fins. Markings usually indistinct but sometimes has dark rings or blotches.
Size
Maximum size to 110cm SL.
Habitat
Benthopelagic from 1694-3050m.
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
Records of Spectrunculus grandis from the Atlantic Ocean refer to this species.