| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Ophidiinae |
| Max. size: |
17.2 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 60 - 124 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: northeastern Gulf of Mexico (off Florida), the southeastern coast of the US (off South Carolina), the Bahamas (New Providence I.), Venezuela, and Grenada. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 117-122; Anal soft rays: 95-101; Vertebrae: 65-67. This species is distinguished from its congeners on the basis of vertebral counts; from Lepophidium aporrhox by dorsal rays (117-122 vs. 106-115); from L. aporrhox and L. microlepis by total gill arch elements (8-9 vs. 17-22 and 10-15, respectively); from L. microlepis by average orbit diameter as a percentage of head length (30.4% vs. 23.7%); from L. collettei by the average number of caeca (3.2 vs. 5.4), total gill raker elements (8-9 vs. 12-17), dorsal fin origin (between neural spines 3-4 vs. between 4-5 and 5-6), as well as averages of orbit diameter, body depth at origin of anal fin, predorsal distance, and lateral line length; similar to L. crossotum in number of vertebrae (Ref. 91765). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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