Common Name
Stout Cardinalfish
Year Described
Mead & De Falla, 1965
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VII-VIII-I, 8
Anal Fin: II, 8
Pectoral Fin: 16-19
Lateral Line: 47-53
Gill Rakers: 20-26 (first arch)
Vertebrae: 10+15 = 25 total
Body extremely stout and stumpy. Jaw reaches anterior third of orbit. Symphysis of lower jaw with 2-5 enlarged teeth. Rest of jaw teeth tiny. Vomer with few teeth. Palatine with one row of teeth. Eye large. Opercle with a strong spine. Serrations on rest of opercle and also on preopercle and infraorbital bones. Fin spines very strong, with striations crossing them. Eighth dorsal spine, if present, is tiny and not connected to rest of fin with membrane. Pyloric caeca 7-9. Body and most of body covered in ctenoid scales. Lateral line complete.
Color
Adult fish uniformly blackish. Juveniles dark with pale caudal peduncles and a dark band.
Size
Maximum size to 10cm SL.
Habitat
Mesopelagic from 700-2000m.
Range
S. Brazil to Argentina. Southern temperate circumpolar.
References
Smith, M. M. and P. C. Heemstra (eds.). 1986. Smiths’ Sea Fishes. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg. i-xx + 1-1047, Pls. 1-144.