Lepophidium brevibarbe (Cuvier, 1829)
Shortbeard cusk-eel
Lepophidium brevibarbe
photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

Family:  Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Ophidiinae
Max. size:  28.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 115 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: widespread along the Atlantic coast of the United States (from North Carolina), through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, to the coasts of South America (up to Uruguay); apparently absent in the Bahamas.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 120-134; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 99-110; Vertebrae: 69-74. 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). Body dark gray or brownish gray without blotches; dorsal and anal fins dark, becoming gradually darker at the extreme blackish edge; pelvic fin blackish in anterior half and pale in posterior half; gill arch blackish or brownish; head covered with scales except for snout, lips, and branchiostegal membrane (Ref. 13608).
Biology:  Common species (Ref. 34024). Found on soft bottom (Ref. 7251). 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


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