Common Name
Abyssal Dragon Cusk-eel
Year Described
Nybelin, 1957
Identification
Pectoral Fin: 19-23
Gill Rakers: 13-14 (long gill rakers on first arch)
Vertebrae: 18-19 (precaudal)
Elongate body with a highly attenuate tail. Head large (16.5-17% SL). Shout long (6.1% SL) and flattened. Head with reduced strong to weak spination (present on ethmoidal, prefrontal, interorbital, supraorbital, sphenotic, inner preopercular rim and opercle; but absent on lacrimal, 5th infraorbital, supratemporal, inner and outer posttemporal, and outer preopercular rim). Large mucous pores; particularly along the infraorbital, mandibular, and preopercular canals. Two large leaf-shaped sensory papillae (neuromast patches) on the opercle. Jaws large, extending well past eye. Villiform teeth present on dentaries, premaxilla, vomer (2-4 rows), palatines (2-4 rows), and a single basibranchial patch. Highly developed lateral-line system with three rows of modified scales and sensory pores. Dorsal and anal fin rays not counted due to damage and loss of tail tip in most specimens. Pectoral fin large. Pelvic fins filamentous. Scales cycloid and easily lost in captured specimens.
Color
Color in preservative uniformly brown with darker pigment on the head.
Size
Maximum size to 209mm SL.
Habitat
The deepest known _Porogadus_ species: abyssal from 4830-5300m.
Range
Off northeastern South America to the central Atlantic off E. Brazil.
References
Schwarzhans, W. W., & P. R. Moller. 2021. Revision of the ‘dragon-head’cusk eels of the genus Porogadus (Teleostei: Ophidiidae), with description of eight new species and one new genus. Zootaxa, 5029(1), 1-96.
Other Notes
Most similar to the Porogadus miles group of species but with much reduced head spines and a much deeper habitat. Other close relatives (Porogadus, Tenuicephalus) lack any strong head spines at all.