Common Name
Smoothhead Dragon Cusk-eel
Year Described
Goode & Bean, 1885
Identification
Pectoral Fin: 15-18
Gill Rakers: 15-18 (long gill rakers on first arch)
Vertebrae: 16-17 (pre-caudal)
Elongate body with a highly attenuate tail. Head stout and moderate (14.5-16.4% SL). Snout long (4.0-5.3% SL) and flattened. Head with weak spines (present on ethmoidal, supraorbital, sphenotic, supratemporal, outer post-temporal, inner preopercular rim; absent on lacrimal, prefrontal, interorbital, 5th infraorbital, inner post-temporal, outer preopercular rim). Opercular spine weak. Large mucous pores; particularly along the infraorbital, mandibular, and preopercular canals. One to three large leaf-shaped sensory papillae (neuromast patches) on the opercle. Jaws large, extending well past eye. Villiform teeth present on dentaries, premaxilla, vomer (1-2 rows), palatines (3-4 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
Body pale to medium brown in preservative, with a distinctly darker head.
Size
Maximum size to 220mm SL.
Habitat
Caught on continental slopes between 1800-4600m, but usually <3200m.
Range
The Gulf of Mexico and off E. Brazil. Likely more widespread as it is found widely in the eastern Atlantic.
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
Intermediate in morphology between the Porogadus with long heads and heavy head spines and Tenuicephalus with no head spines and short heads.