Common Name
Squamose Cusk-eel
Year Described
Roule, 1916
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 107-119
Anal Fin: 86-93
Pectoral Fin: 18-20
Caudal Fin: 8
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 3+4+4 (lower limb of first arch)
Vertebrae: 18 precaudal, 51 caudal, 69-73 total
Body robust and elongate with a rounded snout. Snout relatively short. Eye diameter much shorter than snout but larger than in others of the genus. Opercular spine strong. Teeth villiform on jaws and palatine. Four basibranchial tooth patches: two median and a paired set between them. Paired set much smaller in size than posterior median patch and not overlapping. Dorsal origin over pectoral base. Anal fin origin well behind dorsal origin. Caudal fin elongate. Pectoral fins with rays free along almost half of length (last rays totally free). Pelvic fins short with 2 rays flattened distally and somewhat thicker in males. Cycloid scales cover entire head, body, and fins. Lateral line not distinct. Sagittal otolith elongate and larger.
Color
Body tan with no markings. Inside of mouth and gill cover darker. Fins dark.
Size
Maximum size to 285mm SL.
Habitat
Abyssal on soft bottoms from 1122-5005m. Usually deeper than 3500m
Range
Known from 4 records in the central and southern Caribbean Sea. A single record from off S. Brazil. Also in the central and eastern North Atlantic and likely off the coast of the U.S.
References
Anderson, M. E., & D. L. Stein. 2006. Redescription of the rare ophidioid fish, Holcomycteronus brucei, from two new specimens from the Southern Ocean. Polar Biology, 29, 640-642.
Mincarone, M. M., J. G. Nielsen, & P. A. Costa. 2008. Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 and 23 S. Zootaxa, 1770(1), 41-64.
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.
Nielsen, J. G., N. D. King, & P. R. Moller. 2008. Rare abyssal, ophidiid fishes from off the Crozet Islands, Southern Ocean, with a new species of Apagesoma Carter, 1983. Cybium, 32(1), 43-50.
Other Notes
This species is very close to Holcomycteronus brucei but differs in the size of the pair basibranchial tooth plates and also seems to be separated in range (tropical versus sub-Antarctic).