Oneirodes epithales Orr, 1991
Nightmare dreamer

Family:  Oneirodidae (Dreamers)
Max. size:  12.8 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1829 m
Distribution:  Northwest Atlantic: south of Newfoundland, Canada. Also recorded from Georges Bank, USA (Ref. 86949).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-5; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Esca of this species comprises a single, short, unpigmented medial appendage with 16 short filaments, an elongate anterior appendage which is branched at the tip, and no lateral and antero-lateral appendages. Anterior appendage with pigment internally for about one-half its length, with a paired eye-spot at tip of the pigment. There is also a paired eye-spot in the dorsal pigment patch of the escal bulb (Ref. 12204). Characterized further by having subopercle without indentation on posterodorsal margin; length of ventral fork of opercle 25.0-30.0% SL; ratio of lengths of the dorsal and ventral forks of opercle 0.46-0.55; absence of epibranchial teeth; well toothed pharyngobranchial II; upper jaw teeth 36-44, lower jaw teeth 34-39; teeth on vomer 6; dorsal fin rays 5; anal fin rays 4; pectoral fin rays 15-16; head length 38.0-44.4% SL; head depth 44.5-49.8% SL; head width 25.8-34.7%SL; premaxilla length 30.5-35.6% SL; length of lower jaw 43.0-51.1% SL; length of illicium 15.6% SL (Ref. 86949).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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