Dicrolene pallidus Hureau & Nielsen, 1981
photo by SFSA

Family:  Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae
Max. size:  16.6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 2772 - 2992 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: known only from off Namibia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 112-118; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 89-94. Snout rather blunt; eye diameter almost as long as snout; opercular spine strong and straight; hind margin of preopercle usually with 3 sharp spines; 1 median (broad) and a pair (larger and overlapping median one) of basibranchial tooth patches; pseudobranchial filaments 2 or 3; 7-15 developed rakers on anterior arch; lower 5-11 pectoral fin rays free and longer than upper ones; precaudal vertebrae 13-16 (Ref. 34024). No black fin rays; spines in supraorbital absent and on preopercle absent or weak (Ref. 34024).
Biology:  Rare species (Ref. 34024). Reproductive strategy possibly similar to other members of this family featuring oviparity, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 09 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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