Common Name
Brazilian Banded Cusk-eel
Year Described
Kaup, 1856
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 111-135
Anal Fin: 93-105
Pectoral Fin: 19-23
Caudal Fin: 9
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 2-3 rudiments and 4-5 developed (first arch)
Vertebrae: 14-15 precaudal, 48-51 caudal, 62-66 total
Body elongated, with dorsal and ventral sides almost parallel. Head profile rounded to straight. Tail tapering abruptly rearward. Snout projecting and shorter than eye diameter. Eye large. Jaw extends rearward to rear half of orbit. Small villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and palatine. Ethmoid spine short and strong; directed forward. Opercular spine present. Anal fin origin well behind dorsal origin. Pectoral fin extends beyond dorsal origin. Pelvic fins short and unequal (longest extends to opercle). Scales small, non-overlapping, and in regular rows on body. Scales on top of head becoming irregular. Snout, orbital area and throat naked. Pyloric caeca absent.
Color
Body tan to golden brown. Markings are variable, ranging from a few rows of large blotches to a series of solid bands with thin interspaces of a paler color. Cheek with a broad pale collar. Dorsal fin with a series of dark blotches on the margin forming a scalloped edge, becoming a solid border rearward. There are additional dark blotches on the middle of the fin becoming a median stripe posteriorly. Anal fin with a dark margin.
Size
Maximum size to 310mm SL.
Habitat
Found in relatively shallow waters (40-150m).
Range
Southern Brazil to northern Argentina.
References
Nielsen, J. G., D. M. Cohen, D. F. Markle & C. R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO.
Other Notes
This can only be confused with Ophidion zavalai and juvenile Genypterus spp. in the southwestern Atlantic. The former has no markings on the body and the second has a much different shape, squamation, pattern, and mouth size.