Lepophidium marmoratum (Goode & Bean, 1885)
Marbled cusk-eel

Family:  Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Ophidiinae
Max. size:  22.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 155 - 525 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: entire western edge of the Bahamas to Cuba, along the Antilles chain to the Virgin Islands; in the western Caribbean Sea (from Yucatan to Nicaragua).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 120-130; Anal soft rays: 103-110; Vertebrae: 69-72. Rostral spine long and curved, reaching tip of snout, without vertical basal component; peritoneum pale; no median basibranchial tooth patch; head extensively covered with imbricate rows of cycloid scales except for snout and throat; body tapering to point, dagger-shaped (Ref. 34024).
Biology:  Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.