Common Name
Brazilian Blackedge Cusk-eel
Year Described
Rotundo, Caires, Oliveira, Kuranaka, Figueiredo-Filho & Marceniuk, 2023
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 107-139
Anal Fin: 88-107
Pectoral Fin: 17-21
Caudal Fin: 9
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 4-6 developed on lower limb (usually 5), 6-9 (total on first arch)
Vertebrae: 14-16 precaudal, 48-53 caudal, 63-68 total
Body elongated with dorsal and ventral profiles almost parallel except for the tapered tail. Head rounded (males more sloped and straight). Snout projecting over mouth. Ethmoid spine present. Mouth inferior. Jaw extending rearward to middle or rear of orbit. Small villiform teeth on premaxilla, dentary, maxilla, vomer, and palatines. Opercular spine absent. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail. Anal origin well behind dorsal origin. Pelvic fins unequal and short (longest not reaching pectoral base). Pectoral fins shorter than or just reach dorsal origin. Branchiostegal rays number seven. Body covered in small basketweave scales. Head without scales. Scales do not overlap.
Color
Body and head tan to brown (darker dorsally and pale ventrally). Dorsal fin body colored with dark margins. Anal fin dark with a darker margin. Eye silvery to gold.
Size
Maximum size to 325mm SL.
Habitat
Taken on soft bottoms in shallow water (<20m).
Range
Found only off southeastern Brazil.
References
Rotundo, M. M., R. A. Caires, C. Oliveira, M. Kuranaka, J. M. Figueiredo-Filho, & A. P. Marceniuk. 2023. Taxonomic revision of the Ophidion holbrookii Putnam, 1874 (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) species complex, with description of a new species from Brazil. Zootaxa, 5318(2), 237-252.
Other Notes
The sister species to the Caribbean Ophidion holbrookii. It is genetically divergent from the Caribbean species but morphological and meristic characters broadly overlap. The only useful characters seem to be caudal fin length and post-orbital length, but only in smaller sized specimens up to 230mm. Range would seem to be the best distinction.