Verilus sordidus Poey, 1860
photo by FAO

Family:  Malakichthyidae (Temperate ocean-basses)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 650 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: off Cuba and Bahamaa and off Brazil. Probably has a wide range of distribution.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: lower jaw with a row of conical teeth posterior to a canine tooth near symphysis; absence of basioccipital fossa; proximal-middle radial of first anal-fin pterygiophore with no concavity on anterior surface; pectoral-fin rays 15 (rarely 16); first gill arch with 14-16 gill rakers on lower arm; lateral-line scales 43-45; body depth 32.1-36.8% SL (Ref. 123567).
Biology:  Inhabits rocky bottoms to depths less than 100 m.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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