Common Name
Brazilian Flathead Brotula
Year Described
Nielsen, 2009
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 84
Anal Fin: 69
Pectoral Fin: 26
Caudal Fin: 12
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 13-14 (first arch)
Vertebrae: 13 precaudal, 50-51 total
Body elongate but fairly robust. Tail tapering but not greatly elongated. Head distinctly flattened. Snout with flaps, ridges, and papillae. Eye fairly small. Mouth large. Maxilla extends well past eye and is greatly expanded and not sheathed posteriorly. Teeth present in both jaws, vomer, and palatines. Branchiostegal rays 8. Gill rakers shorter than eye diameter. Preopercle free and not serrate. Opercular spine weak and buried in skin. Body completely covered in scales except for a naked snout. Lateral line extends back to under first few dorsal rays. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail. Caudal fin elongated. Pectoral fin fanlike. Pelvic fins short and threadlike.
Color
Body dark brown overall. Head similar to body color. Fins also darker brown to black.
Size
Holotype measures 275mm SL.
Habitat
Benthopelagic from 1055-1173m.
Range
Known from two records: one from eastern and another from southeastern Brazil.
References
Nielsen J.G. 2009. A revision of the bathyal genus Luciobrotula (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) with two new species. Galathea Report 22: 141–156.
Wong, M. K., M. Y. Lee, & W. J. Chen. 2021. Integrative taxonomy reveals a rare and new cusk-eel species of Luciobrotula (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) from the Solomon Sea, West Pacific. European journal of taxonomy, 750, 52-69.
Other Notes
The short lateral line and low vertebral counts distinguish this species from L. corethromycter.