| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae |
| Max. size: |
28.2 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range - 2586 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Pacific: Southeast Pacific Rise on hydrothermal vent site Oasis (17°25.38’S, 113°12.29’W, 2586 m) and observed on three additional sites, Yaquina (7º25’S, 107º48’W, 2750 m), Hobbs (17º35’S, 113º15’W, 2595 m) and Gromit (21º34’S, 114º18’W, 2840 m ). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 80-89; Anal soft rays: 64-72; Vertebrae: 52-53. The species has a robust body; very small, overlapping scales on head and body; thick skin; posteriorly placed, enlarged kidneys; 4 lateral lines; dorsal fin origin above tip of pectorals; base of pelvic fin below hind margin of opercle; head broad with a blunt snout; strong opercular spine covered by thick skin; upper jaw ends just behind eye; teeth granular, one median basibranchial tooth patch; anterior gill arch with 10-11 long rakers; number of rays in dorsal fin 80-89, caudal fin 8, anal fin 64-72, pelvic fin 2, pectoral fin 24-25; number of vertebrae 16-17 + 36 (in total 52-53). |
| Biology: |
The holotype, a male with spindle-formed, unripe testes, does not contain any identifiable stomach contents while the paratype was eviscerated only leaving the strangely formed kidneys which may be an adaptation to the special conditions near the vents. The capture of the two specimens using baited trap indicates a necrophagous diet; specimens grazing on the bottom. The poorly developed teeth and the presence of 10-11 long gill rakers on the anterior arch indicate that it preys upon rather small food-items. The thick skin could be an adaptation to endure the high temperatures in the hydrothermal vent area. The same condition is found in another vent-fish Thermichthys hollisi. The presence of a male without an intromittant organ shows that it is oviparous. The vent site Oasis is composed of active black smokers covered with the tubeworm polychaete Alvinellaspp., large patches of mussels, clams and stalked cirripeds. A milky fluid diffuses from crevices and collapsed lava lakes, with clouds of swimming amphipods. The two specimens were collected next to such a hole surrounded by the mytilid mussel Bathymodiolus thermophilus Kenk & Wilson, 1985, the clam Calyptogena magnifica Boss & Turner, 1980, the stalked barnacle Neolepas cf. zevinae Newman, 1979, actinostolid sea-anemones (Chondrophellia-like), the bythograeid crab Bythograea thermydron Williams, 1980, the galatheid crab Munidopsis sp. And a recently described nematocarcinid shrimp, Nematocarcinus burukowskyi Komai & Segonzac, 2005. Other fish occur in this environment such as the synaphobranchid Ilyophis saldanhai Karmovskaya & Parin, 1999, the bythitid Thermichthys hollisi (Cohen et al., 1990) and an unidentified hagfish. Additional specimens were observed at other sites (Yaquina, Hobbs, and Gromit), between 2585 and 2840 m , at places with sometimes 10 or more individuals swimming in the shimmering vent fluids with temperatures between 2 and 7°C (Ref. 57890). Eggs may be oval and pelagic which may float in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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